An administration congressman on Saturday defended his colleagues in the House of Representatives from criticisms for joining President Arroyo’s trip to the United States to meet with President Barrack Obama.

Palawan Rep. Abraham Mitra said that contrary to what the critics say, joining a presidential trip can be tiring and not something one can get pleasure from.

“Joining a presidential trip is not going on a holiday. It is far from pleasure cruise,” Mitra said.

At least 23 House members are reportedly with the President in the US and they have been criticized for being there just on a holiday or a junket.

“On the contrary, the punishing schedule, where one is whisked from one meeting to another, is a foot race that will leave one tired,” Mitra said.

“There are no sights to see in that kind of a working trip. Only those who enjoy running a triathlon will find joy in joining these trips,” he added.

Meanwhile, House Deputy Minority Leader and Parañaque City Rep. Roilo Golez hit administration Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri for calling House members who joined Arroyo’s US visit “bootlickers.”

Zubiri’s comment on the House delegation, Golez said, was “very unfortunate and uncalled for.”

“It is un-parliamentary for a member of Congress to comment, especially in a negative way, on the other House. He (Zubiri) should have confined himself to the Senate and not criticize the House delegation,” Golez pointed out.

“In the first place, pound for pound, I think the House delegation can more than match the gravitas of the Senate delegation in relation to the President’s agenda in this US visit,” he said.