First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo's lawyer on Thursday turned down a senator's suggestion that Mr. Arroyo testify at the Senate hearing on the World Bank-funded road program scandal via webcast, saying it would also be too stressful for President Arroyo's husband.

"If he will still be interrogated, it's the same. It would still be stressful for [Mr. Arroyo]," the First Gentleman's lawyer, Ruy Rondain, told ABS-CBN's morning show, "Umagang Kay Ganda."

Rondain added that webcasting Mr. Arroyo's answer to allegations of his involvement in the rigged bidding of a World Bank-funded project is also a little too late because "it will take time to set that up."

The lawyer also said that the First Gentleman would still need his cardiologist's authorization before agreeing to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano's suggestion.

Cayetano said Wednesday that it was unfair to Filipinos for Mr. Arroyo to use the usual "health condition" alibi to evade a Senate hearing.

He proposed the use of webcasting, which, he said, was used by the US congress during the impeachment proceedings of former US president Bill Clinton.

He said webcasting is better than hearing Mr. Arroyo's lawyer read his defense statement.

Rondain announced Wednesday that Mr. Arroyo has been prevented by his cardiologist, Dr. Antonio Sibulo, from attending the hearing on the alleged collusive practices committed by three Filipino contractors in the bidding for the multi-billion dollar Philippine National Roads Improvement and Management Program being conducted by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago's committee on economic affairs.

He said that Mr. Arroyo was told by his doctor that he would be putting himself at risk if he would attend the Senate investigation. The hearing was scheduled Thursday at 10 a.m.

Instead of Mr. Arroyo, Rondain said Dr. Sibulo would appear at the hearing to explain the First Gentleman's heart condition.

The President's husband was summoned to the hearing after he was mentioned in a WB report. A Mr. Tomatu Suzuka, as quoted in the WB report said he had "discussed bribes" Mr. Arroyo and the late Senator Robert Barbers.

The Japanese contractor mentioned in the report that Mr. Arroyo and the late senator's approach was "rough" during the meeting.

Other witnesses mentioned in the report said that Mr. Arroyo was supposed to get a 5 per cent share in the rigged bidding.