President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said Wednesday that her husband 'Mike' will leave the country to protect her credibility. "My husband has volunteered to go abroad ... to remove himself from any situation which will cast doubts on my presidency," Arroyo told a business forum. "He, and even his contributions to health care and sports development, have been the object of pillory, especially by my political enemies, who have been trying to distract me from fulfilling my reform agenda as president," she was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. Arroyo's husband Mike, a lawyer from a prominent family, has been portrayed as an influence-peddler, working behind the scenes under the president's protection. While no firm evidence has emerged, he has been accused _ along with Arroyo's son and brother-in-law, both members of the House of Representatives _ of taking kickbacks from operators of jueteng, a popular illegal numbers game. The allegations are the subject of a Senate inquiry. "I love my wife very much," Mike Arroyo said in a statement. "It has been difficult for me to see her suffer through the negative press that I have received." The announcement came two days after Arroyo broke her silence in a three-week-old scandal over wiretap recordings, acknowledging in a televised speech that she talked to an election official about protecting a million-vote victory margin in May 2004 presidential polls. But while she apologized for the lapse, she denied rigging the polls and said she won't resign.
