FG, Cayetano to face off on Tuesday next week

The much-awaited face-off between First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo and Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano will take place next week as the House of Representatives ethics committee reset the opposition lawmaker’s cross-examination to December 19. Cayetano did not attend the House panel's hearing on Tuesday and instead went to protest marches against moves to amend the 1987 Constitution being pushed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her allies. "I joined the anti-con-ass (constituent assembly), anti-President Arroyo rally instead of the ethics committee to show (the President) and the First Gentleman that their harassment will not affect our protests and criticisms," Cayetano said in a text message to GMANews.TV. "It should be PGMA (President Arroyo) and FG on trial not me." Present during the hearing were the First Gentleman, his sons Diosdado "Dato" and Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel, and brother Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo. The President’s husband slapped a complaint against Cayetano before the House ethics committee after the opposition lawmaker accused the Arroyos of keeping illegally sourced funds in bank accounts in Germany. The House panel can slap sanctions from a reprimand to suspension or expulsion. The sanctions must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the House, which is dominated by Arroyo allies. -With a report from Fidel Jimenez, GMANews.TV