November 6, 2009, 7:09pm
President Arroyo will keep the nation in suspense about her political plans until December 1, the last day for filing of certificates of candidacy by those who will join in the May 2010 elections.The President’s lawyer on election matters, Romulo Macalintal, Friday said the public should wait until that day to know whether the President will run for vice president, for congresswoman in Pampanga or for any other elective position next year.
For now, Macalintal said the President remains mum about her plans when she steps down in office even though there is no law banning her from running for public office except the presidency.
The President, whose nine-year presidency expires in June 2010, remains focused on her duties as incumbent leader of the country, he added.
“The President has not made any statement on whether or not she is going to run,” said Macalintal, who was assigned to speak to the media on behalf of the President on election-related matters amid swirling speculations she is joining the congressional race in her native Pampanga next year.
She is reportedly eyeing to become Speaker of the House, while a top political lieutenant said she would be a cinch should she run for vice president in tandem with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, the ruling party’s standard-bearer.
“She has not said if she is open or close to that matter. For now, she is busy with her work as president of the country. Let’s just wait until December 1, the last day of filing of certificate of candidacy and let’s have more suspense on this issue,” he told reporters in the Palace.
Macalintal said it will be the President’s “judgment call” if she runs for public office and the people must respect that.
“In so far as the President is concerned, there is no legal impediment in case she runs. There is now law or any constitutional prohibition that will bar her from seeking any elective position except for the position of the president," he said.
Macalintal said he believes President Arroyo is an “asset” to any branch of government due to her track record in public service. He said the President has displayed her mettle as public servant with many years of service as Chief Executive, vice president, and senator of the Republic.
And if she runs for congresswoman, Macalintal said it doesn’t mean the President would be settling for a lower government position after serving the highest seat in government. He said Congress is a co-equal branch of government like the executive and the judiciary.
On reports the President has built a new house in Lubao, Pampanga supposedly to solidify her congressional bid, Macalintal said the President does not own such one-story house.
He said the house in Barangay San Nicolas is actually owned by the Eva Macapagal Development Corporation on the lot held by the President Diosdado Macapagal Foundation. The new facility was meant to serve as a museum and contains memorabilia of the late President Macapagal, he added.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Party said it is confident that the people will vote for its vice presidential bet, Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas, should Mrs. Arroyo decide to run for the same position.
LP chairman and former Senate President Franklin Drilon said Roxas will surely win by a landslide percentage against the President.
“Maganda ang laban na ito dahil maliwanag na magiging isyu pagdating ng kampanya kung sino ang tama sa mali, sino ang matuwid sa hindi, at sino ang good at evil. Ito ang magiging kampanya namin kung kakandidato nga si Presidente,” he said.
Roxas laughed off but also welcomed the news.
“E di lalong mapapahaba ang honeymoon ko dahil lalong mapapadali ang kandidatura ko,” said Roxas, who claimed that he feels “recharged” after his recent honeymoon with broadcaster Korina Sanchez.
The recently married senator added that whatever political plan Arroyo has is not worth worrying about.
“Bakit kakatakutan yun e ang kinatatayuan namin ay yung matuwid. Ang aming partido ay nakatayo sa isang matibay na bato ng plataporma. Sa iba’t-ibang isyu, iisa ang tinatapakan ng mga kasama namin sa partido. Hindi kami papalit-palit, parati kaming nasa tuwid, tama at tapat,” he added.
The party’s standard bearer, Senator Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III, said he hopes the President would just instead retire from politics.
“Matapos dumaan ang bagyong ‘Ondoy’ at ‘Pepeng,’ nagdagsaan ang mga relief goods para sa mga biktima. Sana naman ho sa susunod na taon, relief from GMA naman. Sana mag-retire na siya,” Aquino said.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel said Mrs. Arroyo running for vice president would be disastrous.
“It’s a formula for disaster if you ask me,” Pimentel said in a text message.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano also frowned at the idea of a “Gibo-GMA” tandem. “Isn’t her presidency plagued with vice? That is stealing, cheating and lying (cover-ups). In a sense people were already used to an Arroyo vice-presidency,” Cayetano said in another text message.
“It will be Gibo (Teodoro’s nickname) that will be affected, It may keep politicians’ support of the admin party intact and lead to massive use of government resources but getting popular support will go from very difficult to almost impossible,” Cayetano said.
“Does Gibo want to spend his precious time answering issues regarding the nine years of the Arroyos? Whatever way we look at it, it won’t be good for the country,” he said.
Sen. Francis Escudero, said such plan is “too much already.”
“Why can’t people turn their back on power? I guess the saying is true: power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Escudero, who has been perceived gunning for presidency, said.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan was skeptical.
“I doubt if she will run for VP. Her approval ratings are in the negative. Public disenchantment over her leadership is widespread nationwide and cuts across all sectors. Given all that, her chances of winning in a nationwide election for the vice presidency are remote,” he said.
“She will not risk running and losing. The stakes are too high and the risks are too great. Most likely she will seek a local post where she has better chances of winning,” he said.
Sen. Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano declined to make a statement but said she was “shocked at the proposal.”
Source: http://mb.com.ph/articles/228290/gma-keep-nation-guessing-until-dec-1
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