Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo moved dramatically on Wednesday to reduce pressure on her government from graft allegations, saying her scandal-prone husband had agreed to leave the country. She did not say how long her husband Jose Miguel, known as "Big Mike", would remain abroad. But analysts doubted whether the move would protect Arroyo from further attacks and noted it could be seen as a sign of growing weakness or desperation.
"This is a major political earthquake. There is an impending tsunami and they are trying to blunt it," William Esposo, a newspaper columnist and former Arroyo ally, told Reuters.
Opposition lawmakers have said Jose Miguel, the couple's son Mikey and brother-in-law Ignacio were involved in payoffs from gambling syndicates. Nothing has been proved.
Arroyo's husband, whom a source in the president's camp said would go to live in San Francisco, has also been accused by the opposition of helping her try to fix last year's election.
The president admitted on Monday to speaking to an election official during vote counting, calling it a lapse in judgement but denying she tried to influence the outcome.
"Today, my family is once again called to sacrifice our personal happiness to allow me to serve best as president of our country," Arroyo told a business forum in Manila.
"My husband has volunteered to go abroad. I mention this here today because I want to signal to everyone that nothing can stop my administration from implementing ... our reform agenda."
Television station ABS-CBN later quoted unnamed sources close to Arroyo as saying she would purge her cabinet on Friday of at least four ministers and three other senior officials close to her husband.
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