Armed forces remain loyal to Philippine leader

Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said the soldiers have no time for politics since they are focused on their task to fight communist insurgents and al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf rebels.

"I can say categorically that the armed forces is solid behind the chain of command and political issues like this will not affect their duties and responsibilities," Teodoro said.

Arroyo ordered the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) to probe the accusation of the distribution of bags of cash to mostly pro-administration congressmen and local officials after she met them at the presidential palace last week.

Leftist farmer leader Rafael Mariano dismissed Arroyo's directive as a desperate effort to cover-up the bribery incident since PAGC can only investigate presidential appointees.

"PAGC has no jurisdiction over elected officials," he said. "The congressmen and local officials can just ignore their invitation." 

Jaime Jacob, a commissioner of PAGC, conceded that their mandate is only limited to probing presidential appointees and they have no jurisdiction over election officials.

Former Senator Rene Saguisag proposed the convening of a citizen's committee that will conduct the investigation.

"The only credible approach here is to create a citizen's committee," he said.

Government critics said the money was intended to ensure the continued support for Arroyo who is feuding with her close ally, House of Representatives Speaker Jose De Venecia.

The feud between Arroyo and De Venecia stemmed from testimony of De Venecia's son during a senate inquiry that the president's husband and the country's elections chief Benjamin Abalos were involved in an anomalous deal with China's ZTE Corp.

Arroyo eventually scrapped the 329-million-dollar deal with ZTE and Abalos, a very close ally of Arroyo, resigned from his post.

Arroyo has survived two impeachment bids over the past two years over allegations she connived with a senior elections official in rigging the 2004 presidential elections after her congressmen allies crushed the complaints on a technicality.//DPA