President Arroyo’s congressional allies Saturday hit back at Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, who earlier criticized her for raking up P2.7 billion in expenses in her foreign trip since 2003.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD Reps. Pedro Romualdo of Camiguin and Lorna Silverio of Bulacan said Guingona was just trying to exploit the President’s trips abroad to advance his political ambition.

TG, son of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., was reportedly planning to run for senator next year under the Nacionalista Party of Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr.

Armed with a Commission on Audit (CoA) report, Guingona on Tuesday said the total cost of the President’s foreign travels since 2003 was more than double the P1.1 billion limit set by Congress during the last six years.

Romualdo said it was obvious that the real intent of Guingona and other opposition senatorial aspirants in hitting the President was to seek media mileage for next year’s elections.

“That’s too much politics. They will say anything at the expense of President Arroyo so they’ll be in the news in aid of their senatorial obsession,” said Romualdo, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.

Contrary to Guingona’s insinuation, Romualdo said the CoA report only proves that everything was accounted for in the President’s foreign trips.

“We’re confident that the Palace has enough basis and justification for the trips and expenses. Let’s not politicize the issue. It’s wrong and unfair to malign the President whom critics fail to realize has to work doubly harder and risk her health and security in every foreign trip she makes to promote our country’s interest.”

As explained by Palace Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar, Romualdo said records from the Department of Budget and Management showed that Mrs. Arroyo only spent P233.8 million for her trips compared to the allocation of P244.6 million, and that no augmentation was allegedly released from the Contingent Fund.

Silverio said the series of attacks on the President and her travels showed the desperation of her critics in seeking higher office.