Manila  - What was supposed to be a quiet dinner for Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and a group of political allies during a recent trip to the United States has turned into a nightmare with a very bitter political aftertaste.

The controversial dinner at the fancy Le Cirque restaurant in New York on August 2 drew flak in the impoverished Philippines after it was reported that the bill amounted to about 1 million pesos (20,000 dollars).

Mok Bantigue, a 49-year-old auto mechanic who earns 400 pesos (8.33 dollars) per day, said he could not believe that such an amount could be spent in just one sitting.

"With that amount I can already assure the college education of my four children and I can ensure that they eat three meals a day until they finish school," he said while rubbing his calloused hands blackened with grease.

Ronnie Bustos, a co-worker of Mok, said that with that one dinner in New York, thousands of impoverished Filipinos could have been fed for at least one day.

According to the latest data from the government's National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), one third of the country's more than 92 million people were living in poverty.

"These people are shameless," Bustos said. "They know that many people are starving in our country and they still could afford to have dinner for one million pesos."

According to a June survey by the Manila-based pollster Social Weather Stations, 20.3 per cent of Filipinos experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months. Almost 5 per cent of the population suffered "severe hunger" or went hungry "often" or "always" in the past three months.

Arroyo went to the US on July 29 to meet with President Barack Obama.

A few days after Arroyos return on August 5, the furor erupted when leftist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Nationalist Movement) released to the local media a news item from the New York Post, which described the dinner at the celebrity restaurant Le Cirque.

"The economic downturn hasn't persuaded everyone to pinch pennies. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was at Le Cirque the other night with a large entourage enjoying the good life," the New York tabloid said. "Macapagal Arroyo ordered several bottles of expensive wine, pushing the dinner tab up to 20,000 dollars."

Government officials quickly tried to douse the fire by claiming that Arroyo did not spend a cent on the dinner and the bill was paid for by Congressman Martin Romualdez.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who was among those who dined at Le Cirque, said the report was grossly exaggerated and the bill during the dinner did not reach 20,000 dollars, but he could not give the exact amount of the bill.

Romualdez, a nephew of former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos, has been evading journalists trying to seek more details about the controversial dinner.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo dared Romualdez - who represents the impoverished province of Leyte - to donate the same amount he spent on the dinner to feed the poor.

"Even if it was not the government but someone else, whoever shoulders the dinner tab has the responsibility because the money is not only for ourselves but also for others," he said.

Even a close ally and loyal supporter of Arroyo raised an eyebrow over the dinner. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago found the bill "so outrageous and outlandish."

"It is too excessive for the circumstances of the country," she said.

"My advice to them is to tell the truth as to how may people attended that dinner, how much was really paid and then apologize and promise that it won't happen again," she added.

Leftist Congressman Walden Bello filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman, calling for an investigation on possible administrative and criminal liabilities of those who partook in the dinner.

"The concerned officials should be made to explain why such an extravagant expense was incurred in the first place, who the public officials present were, and where the funds used came from," he said.

Eduardo Ermita, Arroyo's executive secretary, expressed confidence that there was nothing wrong with the Le Cirque dinner and the president did not violate any law.

"So much has been said on the issue. If there are people who think there are things that need to be looked into further they are free to do what they want," he said. (dpa)
Political analyst Amando Doronila said the government totally missed the point in the raging furor over the Le Cirque dinner.

"No one has said that it was ostentatious or even conspicuous consumption," he said. "It was the insensitivity that was flaunted by the luxurious indulgence during hard times when people are tightening their belts. The presidential entourage may have feasted on their last good meal before the deluge." (dpa)