Jose Miguel Tuason Arroyo

PERSONAL

• Birthday: June 27, 1946
• Father: Ignacio Lacson Arroyo (deceased)
• Mother: Lourdes Zaragoza Tuason (deceased)
• Wife: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
• Sons: Juan Miguel (Mikey), Evagelina Lourdes (Luli), Diosdado Ignacio (Dato)
• Hobbies: dancing, photography, basketball, volleyball, swimming, surfing, and golf

EDUCATION

• Elementary, Ateneo de Manila
• High School, Ateneo de Manila
• BS Political Science
• Bachelor of Laws, Ateneo de Manila

AFFILIATIONS

• Integrated Bar of the Philippines
• Rotary Club of Makati

ISSUES

• P50 million telecoms franchise bill 'payola'
  In July 2001, Veronica “Bing" Rodrigo, former correspondence secretary and friend of President Arroyo, accused the first gentleman of receiving a P50-million bribe for the president to recall her veto of the franchise bills of the Philippine Communication Clearinghouse and APC Wireless Interface Network.
  
  Rodrigo retracted her accusations a few days later.
  
• Alleged use of PCSO funds for the PPC campaign
  In October 2001, Robert Rivero, axed consultant of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, claimed Mike Arroyo used PCSO funds in the campaign of certain senatorial candidates and to bribe the media. He said that Arroyo paid P20.5 million to Bombo Radyo and Radio Mindanao Network but the PCSO and lotto draw announcements did not air in these stations. Some commentators, however, aired pro-administration commentary.

  The PCSO publicity department denied Rivero's accusations.
  

• OFW envoy
  In December 2002, President Arroyo designated Mike Arroyo as an OFW envoy so he could represent her in the countries she could not visit. However, critics assailed Arroyo's announcement when they learned that his activities as OFW envoy could be funded by a proposed overseas workers legal assistance fund. They feared that the Arroyo couple would use the funds for her 2004 campaign.
  
  While the President did not recall her husband's designation, the first gentleman voluntarily resigned.
  
• Importation of rotten rice
  In a privilege speech in February 2003, Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla exposed that 600,000 metric tons of rice imported from India were rotten. Kishore Hemlani, an Indian trader allegedly close to Arroyo, reportedly bagged the P9.5 billion contract for the rice importation. Reports say Hemlani met several times before the contact was inked.
  
• Jose Pidal
  In a series of privilege speeches beginning August 2003, Lacson accused Arroyo of having secret bank accounts under the name of Jose Pidal. He allegedly used these accounts to launder money.
• Expensive room in Las Vegas
  On March 23, 2005, Recah Trinidad in his Philippine Daily Inquirer column wrote about a "heavyweight backer" of Manny Pacquiao who occupied a luxurious suite at the MGM Grand Villa 1 sa Las Vegas where the Pacquiao-Erik Morales fight occurred. The suit reportedly costs $20,000 or one million pesos per night. After a few days, a spokesperson for the First Gentleman said Arroyo indeed stayed in such a room, but it was given to him for free.
  
• Jueteng
  In April 2005, an official of the Philippine National Police told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that there are people close to high government officials who receive jueteng payola. He gave them codenames: M1, M2 at JS7. Si M1 was the oldest. M2 was a young politician in Luzon, and JS7 was his uncle. The source did not give names and there were speculations that those being referred to were Mike Arroyo, Mikey Arroyo, and Ignacio Arroyo. Mike denied this, while the palace said this was just concoctions by those who want to oust the President.