MANILA – President Gloria Arroyo yesterday firmly denied her family profited from government deals and vowed she would spare no one if they are found guilty of corruption.

The statement came as security forces prepared for a massive anti-government protest today to push for Arroyo's resignation amid a scandal linking her spouse, Jose Miguel Arroyo, and a political ally to an aborted telecoms deal.

"I am not perfect, but I have worked everyday to achieve positive and lasting change for the nation," Arroyo said, stressing that she would not allow corruption to erode economic gains.

"I guarantee that whoever is found guilty will be made to answer," Arroyo said. "We will hold officials accountable if they are found to be corrupt. We will spare no one as investigations are concluded and friend and foe alike are brought to account for their actions in the proper courts."

"I am the president, no one else. Only I decide issues relating to government. My family is not profiting from government," she said.

A government official has testified before a Senate inquiry that Arroyo's husband Jose Miguel, and former elections chief Benjamin Abalos tried to get millions in kickbacks from a telecoms deal with China's state-run firm ZTE.

The $339 million transaction was suspended by Arroyo when the allegations first surfaced late last year, fuelling anti-government sentiment in the streets.

Arroyo yesterday said she would step down from power when her six year term expires in 2010, and challenged those seeking the presidency "to develop a positive agenda for change and reform."

"The people want us to focus on working for the people and avoid the endless saga of political vendetta and mindless investigations," Arroyo said.*AFP

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