BY JAY CHUA

FIFTEEN days after he arrived from Europe, Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo flew to Hong Kong yesterday. He was scheduled to appear Tuesday in the Ombudsman’s investigation on the ZTE broadband scandal.

Arroyo was escorted by Alfonso Cusi, general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority; Brig. Gen. (ret.) Angel Atutubo, assistant manager for security and emergency services; and Octavio Lina, general manager of Terminal 1. His plane took off at 8:29 a.m.

Cusi said the First Gentleman told him he would be back either Sunday or Monday.

The First Gentle-man’s counsel Ruy Rondain said he went to Hong Kong for acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture is a technique of inserting and manipulating "filiform" needles into points on the body with the aim of relieving pain and for therapeutic purposes.

The presidential spouse had open heart surgery in April last year.

Arroyo flew first class section. He sat beside actress Rufa Mae Quinto. Cusi said the seating was coincidental.

There were reports that the First Gentleman would be abducted by disgruntled forces from the Presidential Security Group.

But Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon said the report is another disinformation campaign of the political opposition and other critics of the First Family. – With Regina Bengco