Another Arroyo Lavish Dinner

After the New York Post report on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's $20,000 dinner at Le Cirque in Manhattan, another one comes up, this time in Washington DC. The Washington Post reports that Arroyo was again spotted to have had a $15,000 dinner with an entourage of 65 at Bobby Van's Steak House on 15th Street NW, plainly hours after her meeting with US President Obama. This actually happened BEFORE the Le Cirque feast, a follow-up report of which has come out in the New York Post.

Now, who paid for this? Congressman Martin Romualdez, purportedly named to have paid for the Le Cirque dinner, has been constantly avoiding the media on questions reagarding the issue. The Bobby Van's dinner, which has also reached the desk of the New York Post, was reportedly paid for by one unknown woman in Arroyo's staff, who took out the payment from a handbag stuffed with cash.

So who is Arroyo fooling here? Who wouldn't think it is the Philippine taxpayer's money being spent for these lavish meals? It is sad to note that while people back here in the country are almost dying of hunger, and while employees are almost penniless because of mandatory tax deductions by the Bureau of Internal Revenue from their salaries, our head of state is having her fill and is almost bursting with the finest food in the United States.

Malacanang Palace is defending these meals to the last detail. Media is being blamed for "sensationalizing" this issue; hell why the media? Why not Arroyo and her entourage?

This is but a shame. Something we know Arroyo can get away with. Poor Filipinos. Poor taxpayers. Poor Philippines. :(