Sen. Cayetano admits help from First Gentleman in polls

Senator Pia Cayetano on Friday admitted that she and her brothers received financial support from First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo in the 2004 elections. "I'm forever grateful to all the people who supported me during the campaign...and, of course, the First Gentleman is part of it," Cayetano said in a press briefing. The senator, however, maintained that she stands by her younger brother, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, who has alleged that the First Gentleman kept a secret multi-million-dollar bank account in Germany. The First Gentleman went to Germany and came back with certification that he had no such deposit. He sued the younger Cayetano on 13 counts of libel before the House Ethics committee. Sen. Cayetano, noting that her brother has been a congressman for three terms, said the younger Cayetano would not make any accusations without basis. "I proudly stand by my brother," she said. She added that that being an administration senator, her lines to Malacañang are always open, and was willing to help settle personal differences. The senator said she has not received a call from the Palace in connection with the controversy. Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikee" Arroyo, eldest son of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, earlier chided the younger Cayetano for being ungrateful for the financial support that they had extended to the Cayetanos. Sen. Cayetano said that she does not know how much financial support she and her brothers, Alan Peter and Ren, received from the administration party and the First Gentleman. The senator also said that she did not ask her brother about the details of his allegations against the First Gentleman because she wanted to remain independent. If an impeachment complaint against the President ever gets to the Senate, she would have to sit as one of the judges, she noted. "I don't need to know the details. I will get involved if I know too much," she said. -GMANews.TV