Arroyo's husband denies bribe-taking

Mike Arroyo had welcomed the Senate hearing

The husband of the Philippine President, Gloria Arroyo, has denied accepting a bribe from lobbyists.

Mike Arroyo - a lawyer and businessman - is accused, with three other people, of taking $700,000 to try to persuade the president to revive a telecommunications franchise she has vetoed.

President Arroyo is backing her husband

But, speaking to a Senate investigation on Thursday, Mr Arroyo said he was innocent, and said the official who had originally made the allegations had withdrawn her statement.

The First Gentleman, as he is known in the Philippines, also denied involvement in another charge of diverting funds to bankroll senators' election campaigns.

A senator and former national police chief, Panfilo Lacson, has accused Mr Arroyo of diverting almost $5m from a state lottery office to bankroll the elections and bribe radio commentators.

Arroyo grilled

The main investigation, though, deals with allegations made earlier this year by a former presidential palace secretary and high-school friend of the president.

Veronica Rodrigo has apologised to Mr Arroyo

Soon after making the allegations, the secretary, Veronica Rodrigo, withdrew them and apologised, saying the charges were based on hearsay. And on Thursday she appeared before the committee hearing to repeat that.

She said she had no direct knowledge or evidence of the bribery allegation against Mr Arroyo.

The three-hour hearing was shown live on national television, during which Mr Arroyo was questioned by opposition senators, including the wife of ousted President Joseph Estrada.

Mr Estrada was forced out of office in January amid allegations of alleged corruption and misrule. He is currently awaiting trial.

His successor, President Arroyo, has promised to rid the government of corruption and says her husband has been falsely accused as a way for political opponents to harm her presidency.

Mike Arroyo, whose real name is Jose Miguel, has repeatedly said he is willing to face a Senate investigation to clear his name.