MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's eldest son, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel 'Mikey' Arroyo, on Friday welcomed the filing of graft and perjury complaints against him in the Ombudsman, saying this would give him a chance to respond at the right forum.

"I welcome this development and I even thank the group for bringing this issue, which needs to be answered in the proper forum... Instead of grandstanding at my expense, they go to the proper form. That's very commendable," Arroyo told radio dzMM.

Now that allegations of irregularities in his 2007 and 2008 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) have been brought before the Ombudsman, he said he can properly present his defense and eventually clear his name.

"I know that the rules of evidence, when applied, will clear my name. I'm very grateful that it is now in the Ombudsman," he said, adding that his lawyers have assured him that his SALNs are transparent and self-explanatory.

"Everything I own, I declared [in my SALN]," he said. "I don't begrudge the group Courage for bringing this issue to the Ombudsman. In fact, I appreciate it."

Several cases filed against the members of the Arroyo family have been dismissed by the Ombudsman. The most recent was the dismissal of a graft complaint against First Gentleman Mike Arroyo for his alleged involvement in the anomalous US$329-million National Broadband Network (NBN)-ZTE project.

Unexplained wealth?

Graft and perjury complaints against Arroyo were filed before the Ombudsman on Thursday for his alleged failure to declare several of his assets, including a multimillion-peso home in the United States.

In a 7-page complaint-affidavit, Courage President Ferdinand R. Gaite, first vice-president (VP) Rosario Deblois, second VP Rosalinda Nartates, NCR-secretary general Soledad Belvis, and coordinators Mercy Catalan and Roman Mamolo asked the anti-graft body to investigate Arroyo for alleged ill-gotten wealth.

Courage stands for Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage). 

Courage asked the Ombudsman to compel Arroyo to explain how his net worth "suddenly ballooned to a staggering P61.8 million in 2005" from zero in his first year in public office.
 
The group said Arroyo could be held liable for graft simply based on his admission that he accepted millions in wedding gifts and campaign contributions, which helped pad his assets from P76.9 million in 2005 to P99.2 million in 2008. 

Arroyo had earlier admitted in a GMA-7 morning show that wedding gifts and campaign contributions partially accounted for his increase in wealth.

On Thursday, Newsbreak online also reported that Mikey Arroyo should also explain how his wealth increased 113 times from the time he served as an executive assistant of his mother in the Senate in 1992 to his election as vice-governor of Pampanga in 2001.

From only P50,000 in 1993—based on the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) he filed with the Senate secretary—Mikey’s net worth grew to P5.72 million by 2001, the year he was elected vice-governor. It represented an increase of 11,300%. (Read: Mikey's assets before getting elected: P50,000)

Stricter rules on SALN requests

Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman has been criticized for tightening rules in furnishing the public with copies of government officials' SALN.

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez’s Memorandum Circular No. 1, signed on June 16, 2009, requires the requesting party to present two government-issued identification cards.
 
It also requires a sworn statement before a prosecutor of the Ombudsman stating the reasons for the request.
 
Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus Jr. said the new rules for SALN requests had nothing to do with recent news about the alleged unexplained wealth of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and some members of the First Family, including the Pampanga congressman.

De Jesus said “there has to be a procedure” in requesting for important documents such as the SALN of public officials.

Investigative reports

On Thursday, Senators Francis 'Chiz' Escudero and Miriam Santiago assailed the new rules, saying SALN documents should be accessible to the public.

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism recently came out with reports of the First Family’s wealth increase. (Read: Can Arroyo explain her wealth? http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/10/09/can-president-arroyo-explain-...
 
They also came out with a report also showing the number of foundations established during Arroyo’s presidency. (Read:Arroyos run a horde of foundations http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/09/09/arroyos-run-horde-foundations
 
Another investigative group, VERA Files, came out with a report on the Pampanga congressman's million-dollar home in San Francisco. (Read: Arroyo sons acquire US homes, businesses after election to Congress http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/31/09/arroyo-sons-acquire-us-homes-...
 
The reports were published after the President’s “lavish” dinner with other public officials at New York ’s Le Cirque restaurant during her US visit over a month ago.