TULFOS REVELATION PUTS GMA, FIRST COUPLE IN BIGGER TROUBLE -- PIMENTEL

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Nene Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said the claim of investigative journalist Ramon Tulfo that First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and Jose Pidal are one and the same person further bolsters the allegation that he is an accomplice of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in taking advantage of her office to amass wealth through questionable means.

Pimentel said the admission of Tulfo carries a lot of weight because he was one of the few journalists who were close to the First Couple, and were privy to a lot of inside stories in Malacañang .

He said this is certainly another person why President Arroyo should either resign or be unseated.

Certainly, that adds to the problem of Gloria and her husband, there is no question about that, the minority leader said.

Pimentel said, however doubted whether Tulfos revelation will lead to the reopening of the Senate investigation into the Jose Pidal bank account controversy, since that has been closed a couple of years ago.

Tulfo was a trusted friend and staunch defender of the Arroyos until he had a falling out with the First Gentlemen triggered by his expos on the alleged smuggling activities of Vicky Toh and her brother at the Manila port. Vicky Toh was a former private secretary of Mr. Arroyo at his private law office.