MANILA, Philippines ? A ?boob job? on the President? NO way!

After initially denying President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had breast implant, Malacañang Friday night confirmed that she underwent such a medical procedure in the ?80s.

The Palace also confirmed that Ms Arroyo had biopsies conducted on lumps found on her breast and groin while on a two-day self-quarantine at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center early this week. The results of the biopsies were normal, according to a Palace statement.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde called the Philippine Daily Inquirer Friday night to clarify that Ms Arroyo indeed had a breast implant in the ?80s.

?An abscess was removed and something was put in its place,? he said, but could not provide other details. He maintained she had no recent breast implant replacement.

Remonde made the confirmation about six hours after he and other Palace officials bristled with indignation at reports that the President had a breast implant replaced while ostensibly on quarantine after returning from two weeks of travel to Japan, Colombia, Brazil and Hong Kong.

In dismissing the reports as nonsensical, Remonde said Ms Arroyo was not your regular sexy actress fixated with such cosmetic surgery.

Matter speaks for itself

Remonde took pains to scotch the report.

?As I said, res ipsa loquitur (the matter speaks for itself). Just look if the President had a breast implant. That?s a private matter. It?s obvious if women have had breast implants. The sexy actresses with (unbelievable) boobs, they?re the ones who underwent breast implants. We can?t say the same thing of the President,? he said.

Remonde initially could neither confirm nor deny if Ms Arroyo had breast implants in the ?80s.

?That is something that I could not (respond to) ... Perhaps, you can look at her if she?s the type who?s likely to have a breast implant,? he said.

Secretary Gabriel Claudio, presidential political adviser, thought the reports were incredible. ?What? Silicone implants? That?s the first time I heard about that. No way; I only heard about that from you at this instant. I thought you were joking.?

Remonde said in a briefing that Ms Arroyo, 62, was in good health after biopsies were conducted on lumps found on her breast and groin, adding that the lumps showed on an earlier MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan.

Asked if the ?mass? in her breast could have been caused by a leak in the ?breast implant,? he said: ?We don?t want to engage in those kinds of details anymore. We repeat that biopsies were made. The results were negative. The President is in the pink of health.?

Strong but also a woman

He said that the Chief Executive was ?annoyed? by reports referring to breast implants. ?The President is a strong President, but she?s also a woman,? he said.

?That report is totally absurd. I stand by my report that the President checked in at the Asian Medical Center as part of her quarantine. I stand by my report that as part of her quarantine, she will take the opportunity to undergo regular checkups,? Remonde said.

Remonde ruled out looking into the possible leakage of information or the source of the papers? information.

?No harm done. I think the President is very forbearing when it comes to this matter. What is important is she is healthy,? he said.

Quoting sources, a story and a column in two different papers (the Inquirer was not among them) said Friday that Ms Arroyo checked in at the Asian Hospital in Muntinlupa City early this week for a repair of leaking breast implants.

The Palace had said she checked in at the hospital Tuesday night for a self-imposed quarantine, a day after she arrived from the countries she visited that were hit by the A(H1N1) virus.

She checked out Thursday afternoon with a ?clean bill of health,? officials said.

Gynecologist?s certification

Remonde disclosed that the President had undergone a medical checkup before her trip last month, but ?some test results needed follow-up,? including the biopsies.

He later produced a certification from the hospital?s gynecologist, Maria Theresa Tangkeko-Lopez, who confirmed that she underwent a routine gynecological checkup before departing for Japan on June 17.

?The result of the biopsy is negative,? he said. ?The President is in good health. You will see her moving around in the next few days. That?s the best proof of her health.?

Philippine Star columnist Jarius Bondoc wrote Friday that Ms Arroyo checked in for a ?mammoplastic repair? of leaking breast implants done in the 1980s, and removal of a cyst in the groin and extra hair growth.

No charge

Reacting to reports of a whopping hospital bill, Remonde said that the Asian Hospital did not charge the President as a courtesy.

Also Friday, United Opposition (UNO) president Jejomar Binay urged Malacañang to be transparent on the state of the President?s health after noting that her stay at the hospital was more than just self-quarantine.

?My concern is whether her medical condition is affecting her judgment and fitness to govern,? said Binay, who is reported to be planning to run for president next year.

?As we enter the crucial months leading to the elections, and with all these talks of destabilization and no election, we cannot leave the big decisions to someone who may not be physically well,? he added.

Taxpayers paid

Since taxpayers paid for Ms Arroyo?s stay at the Asian hospital, Binay said in a statement, they must be informed that they paid for medical procedures and not a self-quarantine. With reports from Allison W. Lopez and Reuters