The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) made this assertion following President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's claim that she did not receive any payola. According to Danilo "Ka Daning" Ramos, secretary general of KMP, "we think that the first couple learned this lesson from ousted President Estrada, and the one who handle the dirty jobs should not be the president to avoid implicating her. That is why inquiries regarding jueteng usually stops with the First Gentleman, because he is the president's bagman and operator,unlike Erap who handles it himself,"

 "Just look at the dubious trip of Mike  and Iggy Arroyo to Singapore at the time that the jueteng payola scandal broke out. Isn't it quite odd that not even Malacanang knows when they will return? This is a classic example of stone-walling," added the peasant leader.

 Meanwhile Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of the group, "by this move they are preventing further criticisms to the First Family, by hiding the easy target. Mike and Iggy should attend the congress and senate inquiries, to spill the beans,"

 "And this time Iggy's imposition of his right to privacy should not be honored," ended Ala.###
 

KMP - 24 May 2005