Arroyo to undertake four foreign tours

President Gloria Arroyo is heading for the high profile wedding of the prince of Brunei the first of four foreign trips this year, bringing the spotlight back on whether she will follow austerity measures.

Arroyo has been at the receiving end of some criticism for taking her immediate relatives and grand children's nannies on a recent trip to China.

The president's first foreign trip after China will be the September 9 wedding of Brunei Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, according to a high-ranking government official.

Arroyo and her husband, Mike and Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes have been invited by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah to attend the wedding of his son.

Her second trip will be an October visit to Vietnam to attend the Fifth Asia-Europe Meeting. In November, she will be at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Chile, and then the Asean Summit in Laos.

Criticism

It remains to be seen whether Arroyo will take her clan along with her during these trips and face another round of criticism for not adhering to belt-tightening measures.

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel said the Palace could have avoided criticism about her recent trip to China if the Arroyo clan did not join en masse.