MANILA, Philippines -- Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, correcting a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, Thursday said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was not around when men in barong tagalog distributed glossy paper bags containing cash to congressmen in Malacañang.

?She was no longer there. I don?t know if she was still in Malacañang but definitely she was no longer around when the distribution happened,? Abante told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent company and one of the content providers of INQUIRER.net.

In its Thursday issue, the Inquirer reported Abante as saying that Ms Arroyo was present when men -- and, by some other accounts, women -- gave out paper bags containing money to the lawmakers during the breakfast meeting at the Palace.

Abante, however, stood by his account that he received P500,000 -- in five bundles of P100,000 each -- contained in the paper bag.

Abante, who is now in the United Arab Emirates, said he was sure Ms Arroyo would not take it against him for telling the truth about the P500,000 he got in a floral paper bag.

?Many members of the media have been asking me. And members of my congregation are also asking me about it,? Abante said in a long distance phone call.

?I cannot in conscience and in view of my faith remain quiet when the people clamor for the truth,? he added.

Malacañang staffer

Abante is a member of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats coalition and is a Baptist minister.

?I?m sure the President will understand,? Abante said, adding he still considered Ms Arroyo an ally.

Radio dzMM said Thursday Abante had told the radio station he had explained to Ms Arroyo his statement about a member of ?the staff of Malacañang? giving him the money.

Abante told the Inquirer he never thought the money given to congressmen was a bribe.

Was she there or not there?

?If I realized it was a bribe I would not have accepted it,? Abante said.

A member of the majority bloc, who refused to be identified because he did not want to antagonize Malacañang, told the Inquirer that he had learned from others at the meeting that Ms Arroyo was, indeed, around when the paper bags were distributed.

The majority member said he was at the breakfast early but also left early. He said he was not around when the cash gifts were given.

?But the congressmen I talked to told me she was there,? the source said.

Heads must roll

A member of the opposition, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño, said it was unlikely Ms Arroyo didn?t know about the distribution of funds.

?In the most unlikely event that it happened right under her nose yet she did not know about it, the question has to be asked, ?Is she still in control??? Casino said.

?It means her people are taking such matters in their hands without even considering its fatal impact on her presidency,? he added.

Casino said some officials had to be given the boot.

?Heads should roll and if it isn?t the President?s, it should be at least her top lieutenants,? Casino said.