Arroyo Couple and Large Entourage Make Hush-hush “Private” Visit to Los Angeles |
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Sections - Philippine Presidency | |||
Written by Bobby M. Reyes | |||
Saturday, 20 June 2009 09:07 | |||
Dateline Los Angeles, California, June 20, 2009 (As Updated)
P hilippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, and an entourage of senior government Filipino Cabinet officials, congressional leaders and some 30 members of the Presidential Security Command, were in Los Angeles, California. They had breakfast today, June 20, 2009, with some 300 Filipino-American community leaders, who hailed mostly from Pampanga, at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel at the Los Angeles International Airport.
The breakfast reception was organized by the United Pampanga Leaders' Council of Southern California, as headed by Chito Mandap. The Arroyo party reportedly occupied several suites at the plush Sheraton Gateway Hotel to rest prior to the breakfast function.
The "private" visit was done on a low profile, so as not to alarm Filipino-American left-wing organizations such as the Bayan, the Gabriela (GATNet), the Mariposa Alliance and other pro-active coalitions. These said organizations usually make a noisy demonstration during, and picketing of, President Arroyo’s visits to any city in the United States. There were only five Los Angeles-based Filipino-American media practitioners who were handpicked to cover the breakfast with President Arroyo and party. Of course, this reporter was not invited to the presidential breakfast, as he has been declared unofficially a persona non grata by the Arroyo Administration.
Reports say that President Arroyo and her entourage arrived in the wee hours of this morning at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). It was supposed to be only a refueling stop on their way to Colombia and then Brazil, where the President will make state visits. This latest Arroyo junket probably wants to spend the Philippine Central Bank's U.S. currency holdings, as if the American dollar is going out of style or the Greenback is being demonetized. The Philippine Airlines' jumbo jet carrying Mrs. Arroyo and her entourage left LAX at 9:40 a.m. for Colombia.
D espite the claims of United States-based critics that First Gentleman Arroyo would be arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on alleged charges of money laundering and theft of American military-and-economic aid, etceteras, etc., reports said that Mr. Arroyo could not be touched by the Feds. He was said to be carrying a Philippine diplomatic passport.
More details about the latest Arroyo stop-over of a junket to the United States will be published, as soon as they could be verified by our Deep Throats. # # #
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Last Updated on Saturday, 20 June 2009 15:56 |
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I thought the First Gentleman has a warrant of arrest from the U.S. government? How could he even come to the United States? Is it true or just a bunch of bull?
Don
Another thing: Knowing what PGMA and her cohorts have done to the Philippines and their own people, why is it that those S.S.B. Fil-Am organizations in this country would even try to host or entertain them. PGMA and her big entourage, paid for by the Filipino taxpayers (the president of the United States doesn't even travel with that same number of people), should be snubbed and ostracized. Don't you agree?
Don
RE: Mike Arroyo. He is now traveling on a diplomatic passport. The Feds cannot touch him for now. He used to travel on a regular Philippine passport because as the First Gentleman, he is not even a Filipino civil servant and much more a diplomat.
Thank you for your comments. It now appears that you are our Number-One Reader.
Mabuhay,
Bobby M. Reyes
Editor
Remember, Marcos is still in hiding—cannot get into Libingan Ng Mga Bayani.
One diminutive President though needs a smaller crypt, maybe two with the husband.
It will be fun if they are exiled in Los Angeles. It will be a new Ayatollah, Bobby.
Angel Dayan
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Speech During a Stopover Visit and Breakfast Meeting with the Filipino Community in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles, California , U.S.A.
June 20, 2009
Economy
"The slowdown even if it’s not a recession, a slowdown tends to be on the back of the poor although every citizen is affected -- middle-class, poor and rich alike. So, we have an economic resiliency plan and it has been designed to provide short-term relief to our most affected citizens while investing in the long-term prosperity of our nation."
"So, therefore, there is still work to be done on the economy this year and next year. And we will remain vigilant to keep the recession from our shores."
Foreign Relations
"In this time of need, because we are still in time of need, we should continue to make tough choices that benefit the nation. As I said earlier, the government for its part must live within its means as a normal Filipino family does. But having said that, it is also essential to understand that one key to having kept our economy strong at home, has been a strong engagement with other countries abroad."
Governance
"Friend and foe alike must all join hands to see our nation through these times. It is important -- and I saw some young Filipino-Americans here -- it is important that our next generation will have hope and opportunity and not be mired perennially, permanently in economic paralysis."
OFWs
"Through aggressive engagement, we’ve championed our OFWs. We have brought in new foreign investment. We have kept the Philippines top of mind with world leaders. And now more than ever, you our Overseas Filipinos, are keeping our nation resilient in times of global challenge. Thanks to your unswerving dedication, you our far-flung heroes have been a major contributor to our nation’s economic resilience." # # #