Arroyo admits to breast implants, a day after palace's denial

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been forced to admit that she had breast implant surgery in the 1980s, only a day after her spokesman described the notion as 'absurd' amid speculation about her present state of health.

Presidential spokesman Cerge Remonde had previously said his boss was not like some 'sexy actresses' who would resort to implants, before his embarrassing retraction.

The discussion was prompted by an unannounced stay in hospital by Mrs Arroyo on Tuesday after she returned to the Philippines from a trade promotion trip to Japan, the Americas and Hong Kong. Mr Remonde had initially explained the hospital stay by saying Mrs Arroyo had voluntarily quarantined herself in case she had been exposed to swine flu.

But on Thursday, the pro-Arroyo Manila Bulletin newspaper reported that 'the president was scheduled to undergo augmentation mammoplasty at the Asian Hospital' in Muntinlupa City. The next day, Philippine Star columnist Jarius Bondoc claimed she had undergone 'mammoplastic repair of leaking breast implants' and had a cyst in her groin removed.

The speculation brought a sharp rebuke from her aide. 'Absurd,' Mr Remonde fumed, 'Res ipsa loquitur [the thing speaks for itself]. Just look if the president had a breast implant. That's a private matter. It's obvious if women have had breast implants.

'The sexy actresses with boobs, they're the ones who underwent breast implants. We can't say the same thing of the president.'