MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s claim that she has “maternal love for the poor” in her State of the Nation Address Monday was exaggerated, a staunch critic said Tuesday.

Linggayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz said during the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines forum at Ilustrado restaurant in Intramuros that it was “unbecoming” of the President to deliver a speech about her concern for the poor in a P90 million worth, newly renovated building wearing expensive clothes, Cruz said.

He added that the “extravagance” of the SONA was “contradictory” to Arroyo’s speech.

Cruz also cited statistical reports, which the President used as basis for claiming about the country’s increased energy self-sufficiency and land distribution, as “too good to be true.”

“If all of these were true, we would be in heaven,” Cruz said.

However, Cruz said that what Arroyo read in her speech were statistics submitted by the different departments.

“She did not tell lies but falsities fed to her by the agencies,” Cruz said.