Nothing can stop GMA in her 2010 bid — allies

By EDMER F. PANESA
December 8, 2009, 4:38pm







Original Story: http://mb.com.ph/articles/233078/nothing-can-stop-gma-her-2010-bid-allies


Nothing can prevent President Arroyo from pursuing her bid for Congress.

This was the assurance made by her allies in the House of Representatives, who expressed confidence the petitions seeking to disqualify the Chief Executive from running in next year’s polls will be junked by Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Lakas-Kampi-CMD Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte said the President should be allowed to continue serving her province mates and the country after her term expires in June 2010.

“We should let PGMA further serve the nation as member of the House of Representatives. She will do much more for our people than most of the senatorial and congressional candidates if she makes it to Congress,” Dimaporo said.

Marikina City Rep. Marcelino Teodoro, also of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, said the disqualification case against the President, particularly the one filed by senatorial aspirant and Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, lacked legal and constitutional bases.

Teodoro was confident the case will also be dismissed if it is elevated to the Supreme Court. The high tribunal, he said, would not bar Mrs. Arroyo from joining the congressional race in the second district of Pampanga.

“It is up to the Supreme Court to give the ruling on the disqualification of PGMA in the 2010 elections. The law of the land should prevail in any circumstance and must be upheld by any individual,” he said.

The neophyte lawmaker added that “until such time the SC has provided its decision on the case, the people of Pampanga will decide on the matter.”

Hontiveros, in her petition before the Comelec, said the President should be disqualified for denying her opponents equal opportunity for public service since they would be fighting an incumbent president who has the country’s resources at her disposal.

Mrs. Arroyo’s congressional bid, she added, violates the equal protection stipulated in Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution, which states that “no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without protection of the laws.”

Meanwhile, Teodoro and Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros Magsaysay saw good news in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) showing that the net satisfaction ratings of the Arroyo government went down to -20 percent from last quarter’s -11 percent.

They said the same survey showed improvement of the people’s perception on the delivery of basic social services.

Teodoro lauded the Arroyo administration for being effective in ensuring that government programs reach the poor despite being bombarded by criticisms.

“The programs that ensure the economic stability as well as the smooth delivery of social services to Filipinos must definitely be continued and extended to farthest marginalized sectors of society,” Teodoro said.


Original Story: http://mb.com.ph/articles/233078/nothing-can-stop-gma-her-2010-bid-allies