JOSE Miguel Arroyo yesterday defended his charity work, saying he wants to gain "pogi" points in heaven and not to polish his image as presidential spouse.

It had nothing do with his being a presidential spouse.

"I do it for the greater glory of God. If you want to gain points in heaven you do charity work," Arroyo told Manila regional trial court Judge Rosario Cruz at the continuation of the trial on the libel case he filed against Malaya publisher Amado Macasaet and business editor Rosario Galang.

Macasaet in his column wrote that the First Gentleman failed to take care of an ailing relative of a member of the Presidential Security Group.

Arroyo said the article tarnished his reputation before his circle of friends.

"It was understood that they thought less of me because of the article. My friends told me that my reputation was damaged. My own daughter (Luli) thinks less of me because of the article," he added.

Arroyo said he is a private figure and the only business that he has with government are his charity works and his being the husband of the President.

"My only partnership with my wife is the conjugal bed and the charity projects," he said.

He cited recent surveys of the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia where his public approval rating was very low.

A court insider said during the almost two-hour hearing, Arroyo seemed to be annoyed by the questions of Malaya lawyer Paul Arias.

"Halatang naiinip siya pero wala masyadong drama. Kita sa mukha niya. Naiinip tapos pakamot-kamot ng ulo, ng mukha niya," the court insider said.

Reporters were barred from the public hearing on orders of the judge.

Court employees could not say if there was a request from any party to hold the hearings behind closed doors.

During the previous hearing, Arroyo challenged Arias to a fistfight.

Arroyo has also filed another libel case against Macasaet, Malaya executive editor Enrique Romualdez, editor in chief Joy delos Reyes, managing editor Ma. Teresa Molina, news editor Minnie Cadeliña, chief of reporters Ellen Tordesillas and reporters Regina Bengco and JP Lopez.

The second libel case arose from a report quoting former senator Francisco Tatad as saying that Arroyo led the cheating machinery of President Arroyo in the 2004 presidential elections.

Also yesterday, Judge Virgilio Alameda of the Manila RTC Branch 10 issued a warrant of arrest against Inquirer publisher Isagani Yambot, seven editors and columnist Ramon Tulfo in connection with the five counts of libel filed by Mr. Arroyo.

The other respondents are Inquirer editor in chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, and managing editor Jose Ma. Nolasco and editors Abelardo Ulanday, Rosario Garcellano, Artemio Engracia Jr., Jorge Aruta, Pergentino Bandayrel Jr., and Juan Sarmiento.

Assistant City Prosecutor J. Eugenio Banico recommended a bail of P10,000 for each of the five counts of libel.

Tulfo, in his column on Jan. 14, 2006, linked Mr. Arroyo to the alleged smuggling activities of siblings Vicky and Tomas Toh. He also said Mr. Arroyo allegedly provided protection to Sammy Lee, a suspected smuggler.

The Bureau of Customs has cleared the Tohs of the allegations while criminal charges against Lee are pending before the Department of Justice.

Arroyo has filed at least 45 libel cases against staffers of various newspapers.
-BY EVANGELINE DE VERA