MANILA - Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño on Tuesday asked the Commission on Audit (COA) to check the expenses of President Gloria Macagapagal Arroyo's recent visit to the United States, which includes at least two lavish dinners, one in Washington D.C. and another in New York.

Casiño said the COA should form a special audit team that will account for all the cash disbursed during Mrs. Arroyo's visit to the US early this month, where she brought along 28 congressmen.

One of the solons, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, has admitted treating an entourage to a US$15,000 dinner at the middle-class Bobby Van's Steakhouse restaurant in Washington D.C. last July 30 to celebrate the First Couple's wedding anniversary.

There was also a US$20,000 dinner at the fancy Le Cirque restaurant in New York, which was reportedly paid for by the brother of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez.

"Busisiin ang ginastos diyan. Kung talagang napasobra, aminin tapos mag-sorry at saka isauli (Audit the expenses. If the finances were really excessive, just admit it, say sorry, and then return the money)," the congressman said.

Casiño came up with the suggestion after House Speaker Prospero Nograles said all 28 congressmen, including himself, should just pay the travel and accommodation expenses incurred during Mrs. Arroyo's visit following the public uproar over the lavish dinners.

Nograles said he believes the visit was partly paid for by the US government, but said that if ever a "billing" is sent to the House, he will call all the congressmen and ask them to reimburse the expenses.

“Let's just pay it on our own. Para matigil na ito,” the House Speaker said. He added that the upper chamber's leadership can charge the expenses to the congressmen's travel allowances.

Casiño said congressmen are given a $300 daily allowance for official business abroad. He said that the US visit, where Mrs. Arroyo met with US President Barack Obama, seemed excessive because of the lavish dinners and the classy hotels where officials stayed.

Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante said he is willing to pay for his expenses. He said he can pay through the House's official per diem for every congressman.

Stonewalling policy

Meanwhile, an opposition leader criticized Malacañang for continuing to keep mum about the details of the expensive dinners in the US.

United Opposition (UNO)-National Capital Region chair Joseph Victor Ejercito said the Palace clearly wants to keep the details secret, contrary to the government's avowed policy of transparency.

“All of them are doing an exceptional job in articulating the position of Malacañang and making sure that the people are aware of how much the Arroyos avoid transparency in its actions at all costs,” Ejercito, son of former President Joseph Estrada, said.

He said Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo, and Arroyo's personal lawyer Romulo Macalintal are "being used to face the public to avoid controversies or to point blame to political opponents."

“The Palace’s tactics are crystal clear evidences that Mrs. Arroyo’s administration completely disregards truth and accountability,” he said.

“What is more, the administration and their lackeys should remember that if they insist on drawing similarities with President Estrada’s term as president for this administration’s failings, we must insist that like President Estrada, Gloria Arroyo should be willing to go to court and face the accusations against her when she is no longer in office,” he said.

Estrada was under house arrest for six years starting April 2001. He was found guilty of plunder by the Sandiganbayan in 2007. Arroyo, however, immediately pardoned and ordered him released after his conviction.