"They can say anything. It's a free country. They should just be responsible," the younger Arroyo told reporters on Monday, adding that all past presidents have had their share of criticisms.
Social Security Administration compliance with presidential directive to reduce management-to-staff ratio (SuDoc GA 1.13:HEHS-99-43 R)
"It is part of our democracy. At the end of the day some criticisms are really valid so we could pick up some point from these criticisms and make them enhance your governance," he said.
The National Security Advisor and staff: transition challenges.(TRANSITION STUDIES): An article from: Presidential Studies Quarterly
But when asked what was her mother's reaction to the various criticisms hurled against his mother, Mikey said: "GMA [Mrs. Arroyo's initials] has her spokesperson. It's Ms. Len Bautista. Let her answer it point by point 'cause I'm not here as her [Mrs. Arroyo's] spokesman."
Mikey was referring to Maria Elena Bautista-Horn, whose last position in the Arroyo administration was head of the Presidential Management Staff.
Over the weekend, Mrs. Arroyo left for Hong Kong to accompany her husband, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, on his medical checkup there.
Mrs. Arroyo will be missing President Benigno Aquino III's first State of the Nation Address (SONA) wherein he is expected to dwell on the corruption scandals that hounded the Arroyo administration, among others.
Asked on the condition of his father, Mikey said: "We have to ask the doctors about that so right now I have no information." — Amita Legaspi/RSJ
