BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
THE camp of First Gentleman Jose Miguel
Arroyo yesterday assailed former House Speaker Jose de Venecia
Jr. for dragging presidential sons Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo
and Diosdado "Dato" Arroyo Jr. in his ouster as House leader
during his privilege speech Monday night.
Juris Soliman, chief of staff of the First
Gentleman, said the First Couple had nothing to do with the
decision of Dato and Mikey to sign the manifesto of
no-confidence against De Venecia.
She said the First Couple is proud of their
youngest son Dato for coming to their defense while explaining
his vote on the motion to declare vacant the seat of Speaker
Monday night.
Mikey, in an interview, said De Venecia was
hiding under the cloak of parliamentary immunity when he made
the "false" accusations.
"His speech was based on anger and not on
solid evidence," he said. "Kung sa labas ng halls of Congress,
(he can be held) accountable to the courts of law."
Soliman challenged De Venecia to back up
his allegations against the First Family with evidence in
court instead of using Congress as a forum to air his
grievances.
Soliman denied De Venecia’s allegations
that Mr. Arroyo was behind the filing of a complaint by lawyer
Roel Pulido against the former House leader before the ethics
committee last year.
She said had the presidential spouse been
bothered by such allegations, he should have already filed
charges like libel against Jose "Joey" de Venecia III when the
latter dragged Mr. Arroyo into the anomalous $329.4-million
national broadband network deal with China’s ZTE last year.
Asked about Mr. Arroyo’s reaction to De
Venecia’s privilege speech, Soliman said he was very calm and
"doesn’t mind anymore."
"Itong mga isyu na ito, ipinauubaya na niya
sa Diyos… the First Gentleman has forgiven all those who
maligned him. Everyone is accountable to God. After his
operation, FG realized that, si God na ang bahala...Bahala na
siya kung good karma o bad karma ang dapat," Soliman said.
Mr. Arroyo had open heart surgery last year at the St.
Luke’s Medical Center. – With Wendell Vigilia
