While Palace chooses to become quiet

MANILA – Former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos on Thursday defended her nephew, Leyte 1st district Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who is being criticized for paying the nearly P1 million bill for a dinner with President Arroyo and her party in the United States.

“You know, we’re talking about a dinner for a President for an anniversary, and in America, it’s double, triple the prices. And you cannot put them in the sidewalk for their anniversary. Maawa naman kayo, para ‘yon lang! Nakakahiya ‘yong pinag-aawayan. Doon sa Amerika, ‘di malaki iyon,” Marcos told ABS-CBN News’ Mario Dumaual in an exclusive interview.

Marcos said that there are other more important issues needed to be discussed aside from the Le Cirque dinner.

Palace officials pointed to Romualdez as the one who shouldered the nearly $20,000 bill during a dinner at Le Cirque in New York, during the visit of the President in the United States.

The dinner drew much flak from critics due to the alleged excessive cost, at a time when the Philippines was mourning the death of former president Corazon Aquino.

“No more statements”

Malacañang meanwhile has apparently chosen to stop issuing further statements on the issue.

Arroyo’s officials had earlier opted to become transparent to assuage critics who have slammed the “lavish” dinners and the “costly” expenses incurred by the president and her entourage during the visit to the US.

On Tuesday, Deputy Executive Secretary Susanna Vargas said the expenses in the US visit were more than P19 million.

Full Story: ABS-CBN News/Yahoo PH