Sin encouraging others to run in ’04 elections

Apart from President Arroyo, there could be other qualified people who can seek the presidency, and Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin is "encouraging" them to run in the elections next year.

Sin issued the statement amid reports that he was encouraging President Arroyo to run in the 2004 elections.

"I know that the President might not be the only good candidate for the position, there can be others. I will give my blessing to all these good people who I think will serve the Filipinos with dedication, selflessness and integrity," Sin said.

In his statement, Sin clarified that his encouraging Mrs. Arroyo to run in the 2004 elections is not an endorsement.

"The choice for their leader is up to the Filipino people. I do not endorse anyone. I leave the judgment to the electorate," Sin said.

Through his spokesman, Bishop Socrates Villegas, Sin said he believed "good people, those who are honest, sincere, and committed to serve the country, should be encouraged to run for public office."

"The essence of democracy," Sin said, "is that the people are given a wide range of intelligent choices of candidates for electoral positions."

A report yesterday said Sin had urged Mrs. Arroyo to seek a full six-year term despite her statement issued in Baguio City last Dec. 30 that she was withdrawing from the May 2004 general elections.

Mrs. Arroyo, at the time the vice president, assumed the remaining 41-month term of former President Joseph Estrada who was ousted by a military-backed popular revolt in January 2001.

Most of Mrs. Arroyo’s partymates in Lakas-CMD are also urging her to reconsider her decision and seek a full mandate next year.

There were also reports that some world leaders, including US President George W. Bush during Mrs. Arroyo’s recent state visit to Washington, are urging her to seek a new term.

US embassy in Manila spokeswoman Karen Kelley, however, told The STAR "Philippine politics is a domestic matter and the choice of leadership in the Philippines will be decided by the people of the Philippines."

Options are also being offered Mrs. Arroyo, including the possible position of Prime Minister should Charter change advocates succeed in converting the present presidential system of government to parliamentary.

While Mrs. Arroyo ruled out another run at the presidency, she has not publicly opposed the Lakas initiative to have Congress convene as a constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Charter.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye had said the proposal to convene Congress into a constituent assembly was the ruling party’s, not the President’s, decision and she was sticking to her vow not seek the presidency in 2004.

Bunye, however, did not say whether Mrs. Arroyo would be interested in the premier’s job.