Mike Arroyo files falsification charges vs Jamby

MANILA, Philippines - First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo on Monday charged Senator Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal with falsification of public documents in connection with her allegation that he was furnished copies of documents on the status of national broadband agreement. Radio dzBB reported that Mr Arroyo's counsel, lawyer Jess Santos, filed the complaint on behalf of his client before the Pasay City Prosecutor's Office. During the February 26 hearing of the Senate, Madrigal presented a letter of former Socioeconomic chief Romulo Neri dated March 29, 2007 to Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Li Jinjun. In the hearing, the senator said that in the said letter, Neri thanked the ambassador for the China’s support on the cyber-education and NBN projects. She pointed out that the letter has a marginal note that said, "copy for FG," and asked if that means first goon, first gangster, or first gentleman. Madrigal said the marginal note clearly showed that the First Gentleman was deeply involved in the project. The National Economic Development Authority has denied that the letter was for Mr Arroyo. In a statement issued the day after the hearing, NEDA said the marginal note is not "copy for FG" but "copy for FGI/PIS" and stands for the name of a NEDA official and his division that handles all Chinese-funded projects. "The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is issuing this statement to shed light on the letter of former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo L. Neri to Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Li Jinjun dated 29 March 2007 presented by Senator Jamby Madrigal during the Senate hearing on the National Broadband Network project yesterday 26 February 2008," NEDA said. "To set the records straight, the complete phrase handwritten on the upper right hand corner of the letter that NEDA possesses is 'copy for FGI/PIS'. The initials 'FGI' stands for Florante G. Igtiben while the acronym PIS refers to the Public Investment Staff of NEDA. Mr. Igtiben is the chief of the Asia Pacific Division of PIS which handles all projects funded by China," it added. In an interview, Igtiben confirmed that he was “FGI" referred to in the letter. “It was not the First Gentleman. It's FGI- it's Florante G. Igtiben, and it's me," he said. - GMANews.TV