Golden arinola scandal
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Golden arinola scandal}}
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| title = Golden arinola scandal
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| type = Political scandal
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| cause = Allegation of President Elpidio Quirino owning an extravagant and expensive arinola{{efn|name=arinola-trans|Often translated to mean either a bedpan or a chamber pot}} and bed
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| first_reporter = Armando J. Malay in The Manila Chronicle
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| outcome = Existence of the golden arinola unproven. Bed was found to cost less than alleged. Elpidio Quirino lost his 1953 reelection bid.
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Elpidio Quirino, the sixth President of the Philippines from 1948 to 1953, was embroiled in a controversy alleging owned a golden arinola{{efn|name=arinola-trans|Often translated to mean either a bedpan or a chamber pot}} and expensive bed.
The issue was addressed in Senate, with Quirino’s political opponents unsuccessfully using the scandal as grounds for his impeachment. Though unproven, the scandal is considered a factor behind Quirino failing to secure a second term in the 1953 general elections.
Background
Philippine President Elpidio Quirino was alleged to have owned a golden arinola (glossed as chamber pot or bedpan{{efn|name=arinola-trans}} as it was used for urination and often kept under a bed). The arinola reportedly cost around {{Philippine peso|250}}{{efn|Or {{Philippine peso|29,000}} as of 2014}} and its complementary bed, {{Philippine peso|5,000}}.{{cite AV media |people= |date=November 2014 |title=Government scandals|trans-title= |type=TV broadcast |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OaOAhpgRF8 |access-date= |archive-url= |archive-date= |format= |time=2:30–6:53|location= |publisher=News 5 |language=fil|work=History with Lourd |id= |isbn= |oclc= |quote= |via=YouTube|ref=}}
According to military historian José Custodio, it was Armando J. Malay first reported this alleged arinola in The Manila Chronicle.{{cite AV media |people= |date=May 2014 |title=Golden Arinola|trans-title= |type=TV broadcast |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lULpKw5chIk |access-date= |archive-url= |archive-date= |format= |time=|location= |publisher=News 5 |language=fil|work=History with Lourd |id= |isbn= |oclc= |quote= |via=YouTube|ref=}} The extravagant cost of the arinola and bed for 1950s standards raised concerns that government funds were used to purchase the set.
The golden arinola scandal reached the Senate. A hearing on the matter led by Justiniano Montano considered using the scandal as grounds for Quirino's possible impeachment. However, the allegations were eventually dropped.
Aftermath
The purported golden arinola was never found, and the bed’s actual cost was only {{Philippine peso|300}}.{{cite news |last1=Ocampo |first1=Ambeth |author1-link=Ambeth Ocampo |title=Elpidio Quirino at 125: Our generation will be kinder |url=https://opinion.inquirer.net/90342/elpidio-quirino-at-125-our-generation-will-be-kinder |access-date=31 July 2023 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=15 November 2015 |language=en}} However Quirino’s reputation has taken enough toll to cause him to lose a second term{{efn|name=Old-presidential-term|The 1935 Constitution then in force permitted many officials including the President a four-year term, once renewable, borrowing from the United States model. The present 1987 Constitution allows only a single six-year term.}} in the 1953 presidential election to Ramon Magsaysay. He also faced allegations of nepotism and misappropriation of funds besides the golden arinola scandal.
In 2014, one of his granddaughters said his daughter and First Lady Vicky had bought him an arinola from Baclaran, but it was made of stainless steel and not the supposed gold.
Notes
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