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| MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Sunday said she was inclined to excuse the husband of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from attending the Senate inquiry into the purported rigged bidding of World Bank-funded projects if he requested it for health reasons. But Santiago, chair of the committee on economic affairs, said she was also inclined to seek a deposition from First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo so he could answer a World Bank report’s allegation of corruption against him. The report claims that contractors and high government officials were colluding to corner World Bank-funded projects in the country. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has urged the President’s husband to break his silence. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde on Sunday asked critics of Mike Arroyo to present solid evidence. “These are nothing until they are able to present evidence that are admissible in court,” Remonde said. “This belongs to the realm of nothing but political black propaganda.” Being the accuser, the World Bank, through its officials, should attend the next hearing scheduled for Thursday to support the allegations, according to Sen. Joker Arroyo. “No appearance [by the World Bank], no case,” Senator Arroyo said over dzBB radio. Interviewed by the Philippine Daily Inquirer later, the senator likened the World Bank invocation of immunity from participating in the Senate inquiry to the executive privilege cited by the President’s Cabinet during congressional inquiries. “In both cases, they don’t want to testify. Both are condemnable,” Senator Arroyo said, noting that the Senate was “irritated”’ by the claim of executive privilege “and yet condones the claim of immunity. Why the double standard?” |