MANILA - The newspaper columnist who broke the story on President Arroyo's breast implants on Tuesday claimed that he is now being "monitored" by the government.

"Nag-tip sa akin ang mga kaibigan natin sa telebisyon at sa print din, ang PSG daw kinakalkal na ang mga cell phone, landline at internet e-mail records ko (My media friends from the television and print told me that PSG is checking may cell phone, landline and internet e-mail records)," Jarius Bondoc, Philippine Star columnist, told ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda.

Bondoc alleged the government is trying to find out who who gave him the information about the medical procedure Mrs. Arroyo underwent at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City.

In his July 3 column, Bondoc said Mrs. Arroyo had "mammoplastic repair of leaking breast implants done in the ’80s" at the Asian hospital.

Bondoc reported that Mrs. Arroyo used the post-travel self-quarantine for A(H1N1) early this week as a handy cover for these procedures.

"The President has been suffering dysfunctional bleeding, likely due to polyps or myoma in the uterus. She had first walked into the hospital one dawn in 2008 for D&C (dilation and curettage) and left at dusk. News then was that she had an executive check. She’s had three follow-ups this year, the last in June. Menopause is inducing abnormal tissue growth and hormonal imbalance, a source said," he said in his July 3 column.

He added that doctors were also set to remove an inguinal cyst on the President's groin "and laser off extra hair growth in that area and the armpits."

Bondoc said the main issue is not Mrs. Arroyo's breast implants, but the possibility of Malacañang keeping the President's health condition from the public.

NBI probe

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has started a probe into the leaked information on President Arroyo's hospital stay at the Asian hospital.

The NBI has already taken statements from three individuals at the hospital regarding the possible violation of the rule on doctor-patient confidentiality.

Meanwhile, all appointments of the President on Monday were cancelled, with Palace officials saying it is still in connection with her self-imposed quarantine and her recent hospital stay.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde earlier denied that Malacañang ordered the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa City to find out who told media about medical procedures done to the President while she was on self-imposed quarantine at the hospital last week.

"It is not true [that we ordered it]. If Asian Hospital is doing an investigation, they are doing it on their own and we did not request it," Remonde told radio dzMM.

The press secretary said the President will continue to visit the medical facility because her gynecologist works there. Mrs. Arroyo also undergoes medical check-ups at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City.

He also refused to comment on Mrs. Arroyo's failure to attend a scheduled visit to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) in Makati City for a signing ceremony. A statement on the PSE website read: "Please be notified that Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s visit to PSE Ayala on Monday, July 6, 2009, is canceled."

Meanwhile, Remonde said Mrs. Arroyo has been given a "clean bill of health" by her gynecologist and was expected to push through in a usually "full scheduled."