MANILA, July 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Philippine First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo will begin his "self-exile" Tuesday by flying to the United States and stay there for an indefinite period of time, a local TV reported Monday.

    Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's eldest son, announced in the ABS-CBN that he would join his father in the trip to the United States.

    Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo, charged with benefiting from illegal gambling "jueteng" with his father and uncle, has suspended himself from the House of Representatives.

    President Arroyo's husband returned to the Philippines on Sunday night with his youngest son's family after a four-day stay in Hong Kong.

    Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye earlier said that the Arroyos would come back and answer the allegations against them when summoned by authorities, dismissing claims that they would run away from investigations into their alleged links to jueteng operations.

    However, at present, no case is filed or pending against the first gentleman, he said.

    "They cannot say this is flight from guilt or any responsibility because he can always come back when invited to (a hearing). The most important thing for him now is to be away from intrigues," Bunye said.

    With her credibility on the line, the embattled president announced last week that her controversial husband chose to go into foreign exile to avoid conflict of interest issues that couldfurther undermine her troubled presidency.

    "My husband has volunteered to go abroad ... to remove himself from any situation which will cast doubts on my presidency," President Arroyo said before the Business Leaders Club.

    "For my children and granddaughters, missing their doting father and grandfather is their small contribution to rebuilding our society. As a wife, I'm grateful to my husband for his sacrifice. My family will miss him terribly, and I ask for you to help pray that we remain strong as a family," she said.

    Arroyo also complained that her husband's "contributions to health care and sports development have been the object of pillory, especially by my political enemies, who have been trying to distract me from fulfilling my reform agenda as president." Enditem