BY JOVE!

PGMA IN NEW YORK (day 1)

(Monitoring the hearings, via internet at the Double Tree hotel where the members of the media delegation are staying, we all knew that we will have to wake up early or just not sleep anymore if we want to get a reaction about the Neri-Abalos senate drama from palace officials arriving with PGMA this morning. Ever since the group arrived in NY, Tuesday morning, it was “Sleepless in Manhattan” because as soon as we arrived we were whisked off to the UN and to the Sheraton to accomplish all the media accreditation procedures needed for our stay in the Big Apple. As soon as the paperworks were over, we had to cover the Sentosa presscon and guard the movement of the consulate people and Sec. Romulo’s for possible story tips. By the time we checked in sa hotel, dinner time na, which means, ilang oras na lang deadline na Manila time. Wala pa si Pangulo niyan, argh. It will be more hectic when she arrives.)

NEW YORK CITY

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— President Arroyo arrived at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel so cheerful, one wouldn’t think she just got out a flight that lasted more than 15 hours.

Never mind that it was in the wee hours of the morning (4am, here), her repeated “good morning greeeting” was enough to wake up those who came early to meet her at the reception line.

The President who was wearing black with red prints, evidently was still unaware of the details of what transpired at the senate back in Manila.

Though the palace is quite aware of Secretary Romulo Neri’s appearance in the broadband deal investigation … it was impossible for the chief executive to have personally monitored the goings on at the upper chamber because she was in transit to New York.

Even Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye wasn’t abreast of what happened and even asked the members of the media delegation who arrived in the US ahead of the presidential entourage to brief him of what occured during the investigation.

Bunye managed to give a “blanket statement”: “I dont know what will be next, what’s important is that the president allowed Neri to testify and we will see what needs to be done”

Nonetheless the palace thinks Neri acted in good faith when he testified before the Senate.

Bunye: “The President has authorized Secretary Neri and at the very least, we can attribute good faith on the part of Secretary Neri.”

But when asked if the palace believe Neri is telling the truth…. Bunye just said: “as to whether he is saying the truth, it’s difficult to say because we were not there,”

Neri was supposed to join the President’s delegation here in New York City, and almost missed the senate hearings in Manila .

But at the last minute Malacanang on the President’s instructions, advised Neri to stay behind and attend the hearing.

PGMA is here in the US primarily to attend the 62nd General Assembly of the United Nations.

The ZTE controversy followed her here as militant filipinos based here have scheduled a picket rally to condemn the government’s role in the supposed anomalous contract.

Other groups are set to hold rallies also to get the president’s attention while she’s here, like the SENTOSA 27+, the pinoy nurses group that is battling their supposed abusive recruiter in US court.

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The first day of PGMA’s New York trip will be hectic.

She will be attending the CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE event at the Sheraton NY. She will also have business meetings including the event with the Millenium Challenge Corporation, where Neri was supposed to back up PGMA in the presentation.

and…. she will be watching Lea Salonga perform on Broadway (Les Miserables at the Broadhurst Theater)…. I will be covering the event for the Philippine Broadcast Pool, (thanks to my lucky hands kapag bunutan ng pool assignments! hehehe)

More updates later!

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(No video grabs of the reports while we are here in the US, please watch SENTRO 930pm and BIG NEWS 645pm … over ABC 5 and at the Mabuhay Channel abroad for the reports about the New York visit of PGMA. Thanks!)

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