Arroyo's son goes on indefinite leave amid jueteng scam

House of Representatives member Juan Miguel alias Mikey Arroyo, has gone on indefinite leave amid accusations of receiving payoffs from illegal lottery syndicates.

"After personal deliberation on the preceding weeks of unmitigated attacks against my person, I have decided to go on leave of absence as member of the House of Representatives until my name is cleared of any taint from the jueteng issue," the 38-year old son of President Gloria Arroyo said in a statement as he referred to the popular, but illegal two digit numbers game.

Mikey, eldest among the three of the president's children, said he made the decision on his own "to dispel any wrong impression that I may use my office to influence the investigation of the allegations aired during the Senate probe on jueteng."

The senate had been holding investigations on the jueteng issue as a result of revelations by Archbishop Oscar Cruz of the northern Philippines' diocese of Pangasinan, that among those benefiting from payoffs given by jueteng syndicates includes individuals close to the president.

Mikey, his father Jose Miguel Arroyo and uncle Ignacio Arroyo also a lawmaker have denied accusations that they have benefitted from jueteng money.

"Needless to say, I am confident that I will be cleared completely of any wrongdoing by the proper authorities," Mikey said.

Mikey gave assurances that he will cooperate in any investigation into the jueteng scandal.