'GMA never called Enrile'

From: gmanews.tv

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s chief-of-staff and spokesperson, Len Bautista-Horn yesterday emphasized that she never called up Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile to push for the passage of a bill splitting Camarines Sur into two provinces.

“She [Arroyo] never called nor talked to JPE about it,” Horn said in a text message.

In a separate statement, Horn said Arroyo’s camp is “deeply saddened” that the ex-President’s name “is being dragged again into another controversy.”

“This time, she is being wrongly used to sow disrespect to a venerable and independent institution like the Senate,” Horn said.

On Wednesday, Sen. Antonio Trillañes IV said Arroyo “personally called up” Enrile asking to “speed up” the passage of the measure dividing Camarines Sur into two provinces.

This triggered a war of words between Trillanes and Enrile, who was accused by his colleague of being a “lackey” of Arroyo’s son Diosdado, the incumbent congressman of the first district of Camarines Sur.

Horn said Arroyo’s priority now is “very much centered on her wellness and her still precarious health condition.” The former President has bone mineral disorder.

“She [Arroyo] chose to focus on her legislative work. She regrets that her name is being used to discredit and malign the name of a much-respected official of the land like the Senate President,” Horn said. ###