Malacañang on Monday commented on a Washington Times editorial calling United States President Barack Obama as President Arroyo’s “political cover” for her troubled administration.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde and deputy presidential spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo said the paper’s managing director, Brent Decker, was a biographer of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia III, and “has also been consistently biased in favor of the Philippine opposition.”

“The paper is just being consistent with being critical against the US president as it is right-leaning,” Remonde said.

Fajardo said with the publication of such “irresponsible” commentary, the Washington Times “reeks of prejudice.”

The Washington-based paper said the July 30 meeting between Mrs. Arroyo and Obama was a "mistake."

“All presidents have their own personal political problems that should not stop them inviting each other in the pursuit of the mutual interest of their respective countries,” Remonde said. “Furthermore, is it not absurd to aver that any American president allows himself to be used by a leader of a developing country? Or is that not a Freudian slip of an admission of the importance of PGMA?,” he said.

Fajardo said the President’s visit in US this week is aimed at enhancing the bilateral relations between the two countries. (Charissa M. Luci)