Cayetano willing to resign if Mike A’s German bank account a hoax

House Deputy Minority Leader Allan Peter Cayetano vowed yesterday to resign and go to jail if he is convicted of libel once it is proven that the multimillion-dollar account of the family of President Arroyo in a German bank is non-existent.

"Kung walang makikita, voluntary kong haharapin kung anong penalty sa libel at magre-resign ako sa Congress, pwede naman iyun," Cayetano told radio station dzMM.

Meanwhile, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo threatened to sue more opposition lawmakers, a day after filing libel charges against Cayetano.

"And to the congressmen who believe and support Cayetano, Mr. Arroyo dared them to repeat their colleague’s accusations outside Congress so (they can be sued as well)," a statement from his office said.

Cayetano, who represents Taguig and Pateros in Congress, maintained that the President and Mr. Arroyo, their son Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel or "Mikey" and his uncle, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo, have an account at the HypoVereinsbank in Munich, Germany.

"Ang pagkawala ko sa Congress ay hindi ganoon kalaki ang epekto sa bansa pero ang hindi nila (Arroyos) pagsagot sa mga isyu ng graft and corruption at filing ng statement of assets and liabilities ay hindi magpapatahimik sa bansa," Cayetano added.

Mr. Arroyo filed on Thursday before the office of Quezon City chief Prosecutor Claro Arellano, a P32-million libel case against Cayetano, who is reportedly running for senator in the May 2007 elections.

Cayetano had rejected Mr. Arroyo’s challenge to the congressman to accompany him to Germany and verify with HypoVereinsbank in Munich if indeed the alleged account 85-570-23030-32100-62771571 exists.

Mr. Arroyo, accompanied by lawyers Jesus Santos and Romeo Macalintal, pushed through with their trip to Germany without Cayetano. The group claimed that they obtained a certification from HypoVereinsbank showing that the alleged Arroyo bank account does not exist.

Cayetano said the Arroyos should have signed a waiver to allow the opening of the German bank account which would simplify the process and give the First Family the opportunity to clear their name.

"It will help determine the truth behind the alleged bank account and settle the issue once and for all," he added.

Cayetano had welcomed the filing of the libel charges against him by the First Gentleman and another complaint before the House ethics committee. A disbarment case could also be filed against him.

"Of course, we welcome the filing (of cases), but he (Mr. Arroyo) should be gentleman enough to face the issue, rather than be a bully and a coward," Cayetano said, as he refused to apologize to the First Family and insisted that the German bank account is authentic.

Cayetano had previously defended himself by his lonesome regarding the German bank account issue, when administration lawmakers ganged up on him particularly those who have been sympathetic to the First Gentleman.

But last Wednesday, Cayetano got support from Minority Leader Francis Escudero, and party-list Reps. Teddy Casiño of Bayan Muna and Joel Villanueva of Cibac, in an apparent show of force by opposition lawmakers.

Members of the House committee on ethics had warned Cayetano from using the panel as "another venue for a personal vendetta" against Mr. Arroyo.

"It (panel) has no jurisdiction on allegations against President Arroyo or the First Family," Lanao del Sur Rep. Benasing Macarambon stressed. "Its task is to determine the alleged wrongdoing or dishonorable conduct of any House member who is the subject of a complaint."

Macarambon said the committee’s jurisdiction only includes all matters directly related to the duties, conduct, rights, privileges and immunities, dignity, integrity and reputation of the House and its members.

"The panel will not allow its proceedings to be used for partisan political purposes," Macarambon said.

Baguio City Rep. Mauricio Domogan said the committee will be "fair and just in disposing of any ethics cases to be filed with it." — With AP