Arroyo says husband to go abroad amid suspicions of corruption

(29 Jun 2005) SHOTLIST
1. Wide shot Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo seated with business leaders
2. Mid shot Arroyo
3. People listening
4. Arroyo stands for her speech, zoom out to wide shot Arroyo approaching podium
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Philippine President:
"Today, my family is once again called to sacrifice our personal happiness, to allow me to serve best as president of our country. My husband has volunteered to go abroad."
6. Businessmen listening
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Michael Clancy, Chairman, Philippine Business Forum:
"Now I think, what you have got in President Arroyo is a woman who is prepared to make tough decisions, who is prepared to make tough calls, and she has demonstrated that today, and you guys should be thankful for it."
7. Wide shot Arroyo seated with business leaders
8. Mid shot Arroyo
STORYLINE
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, already under pressure over allegations that she rigged last year's election, said on Wednesday that her corruption-tainted husband will leave the country to protect her credibility.
"My husband has volunteered to go abroad," Arroyo told a business forum.
The move appeared designed to placate investors worried about instability and help Arroyo - who has made the fight against corruption a cornerstone of her presidency - win back public trust shaken to its foundations by the election scandal and allegations that her relatives took kickbacks from illegal gambling.
The speech came two days after Arroyo broke her silence in a three-week-old scandal over wiretap recordings, acknowledging in a televised speech that she talked to an election official about protecting a million-vote victory margin in May 2004 presidential polls.
But she denied rigging the polls and said she won't resign, apologising for the lapse and appealing for unity.
Arroyo's husband Mike, a lawyer from a prominent family, has been portrayed as an influence-peddler, working behind the scenes under the president's protection.
While no firm evidence has emerged, he has been accused - along with Arroyo's son and brother-in-law, both members of the House of Representatives - of taking kickbacks from operators of a popular illegal numbers game called jueteng.
The allegations are the subject of a Senate inquiry.
Arroyo's son Mikey has taken leave from his post, and he and her brother-in-law have filed libel suits against their main accuser, denying any wrongdoing.
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