| Type | Political scandal |
|---|---|
| Cause | Allegation of President Elpidio Quirino owning an extravagant and expensive arinola [a] and bed |
| First reporter | Armando J. Malay in The Manila Chronicle |
| Outcome | Existence of the golden arinola unproven. Bed was found to cost less than alleged. Elpidio Quirino lost his 1953 reelection bid. |
Elpidio Quirino, the sixth President of the Philippines from 1948 to 1953, was embroiled in a controversy alleging owned a golden arinola [a] 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.
Philippine President Elpidio Quirino was alleged to have owned a golden arinola (glossed as chamber pot or bedpan [a] as it was used for urination and often kept under a bed). The arinola reportedly cost around ₱250 [b] and its complementary bed, ₱5,000. [1]
According to military historian José Custodio, it was Armando J. Malay first reported this alleged arinola in The Manila Chronicle . [2] The extravagant cost of the arinola and bed for 1950s standards raised concerns that government funds were used to purchase the set. [1]
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. [1]
The purported golden arinola was never found, and the bed’s actual cost was only ₱300. [3] However Quirino’s reputation has taken enough toll to cause him to lose a second term [c] in the 1953 presidential election to Ramon Magsaysay. He also faced allegations of nepotism and misappropriation of funds besides the golden arinola scandal. [1]
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. [2]