Mikey Arroyo back from fund-raising trip with $15,000 in pledges

Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo returned to the Philippines two days ahead of schedule to show, he said, that he was not skirting the tax evasion charges filed against him and his wife.

Arroyo issued a statement detailing his fund-raising trip to the United States but he was silent on the fate of his mother, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who remains in a hospital and is facing election sabotage charges.

“I decided to cut short my trip to the United States to attend to my mother. I want to prove to everyone, especially the judicial system and to the people, that I am not a flight risk,” Arroyo said.

The former president’s elder son was allowed by the court to fly to the United States on November 17. He was scheduled to return on December 7. He went straight to St. Luke’s Medical Center at Bonifacio Global City upon his arrival on Monday.

Arroyo revealed that his trip has been successful as he drew $15,000 in pledges from Filipino groups in the United States to bankroll his party-list’s health assistance for security guards.

“I could have brought home the money but I just don’t want to handle it and its disposition,” So, what I suggested is that the money be disposed the way a PDAF (priority development assistance fund) is done,” said Arroyo.

Like a pork barrel fund, Arroyo said security guards would apply with his office for assistance and their names would be forwarded to the donors who would remit the money either directly or to the hospitals of their choice.

Originally posted: 3:09 pm | Tuesday, December 6th, 2011