CDO mayor endorses GMA for president

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — For the nth time, Mayor Vicente Emano endorsed the candidacy of President Arroyo, should she decide to run in 2004. He, however, declined to join the ruling Lakas political party.

Emano, who heads the local Padayon Pilipino party affiliated with the opposition, explained his endorsement as his way of thanking the President for the projects she has implemented here and in Northern Mindanao, especially in Misamis Oriental.

These projects include the ongoing International Container Port and Terminal and the coal-fired power plant in Villanueva, and the Languindingan International Airport in Tagoloan, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental.

"I would like to express my deep appreciation to her for what she has done to Mindanao. As she said, the development of Mindanao is the development of the country," he said.

Misamis Occidental Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos also threw his full support behind Mrs. Arroyo, should she decide to recant her Dec. 30, 2002 vow and run for president next year.

"I will support her because I saw in her the sincerity and competence, the brains, guts and experience in running a country," Ocampos said.

The President continues to say she is keeping her vow not to seek another term at the helm of government, despite the efforts of many local politicians to convince her to do otherwise.

House defense committee chairman Rep. Prospero Pichay (Lakas, Surigao del Sur) said in a statement that there is a "growing clamor in Mindanao for President Arroyo to run in the 2004 polls."

Pichay made his comments after the President’s warm reception in Butuan City, where residents welcomed her with banners exhorting her to run in 2004.

He said there was a growing consensus in the south that the President should seek another term, especially after her week-long sojourn in Mindanao, where she launched the Mindanao National Initiative (Mindanao Natin) that will support long-term development there.

Some 25 Mindanao leaders, including Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan and Vice Gov. Bimbo Sinsuat, signed a manifesto urging the President to run. They submitted this manifesto to Mrs. Arroyo when she visited Maguindanao.

The manifesto called on the President to ensure the continuity of her socio-economic programs.

"After all," Pichay said, "who among the presidentiables have the experience to run this country? There is no law or sacred code prohibiting her candidacy, particularly when the interests of the country would be furthered by her election."

The Mindanao lawmaker said he was in accord with recent analyses by local and foreign think tanks predicting an uptrend in the country’s business prospects if, and when, the President does decide to join the 2004 presidential derby.

The London-based Fitch Ratings said in a statement that her decision "not to stand for a second term potentially robs the Philippines of a unique opportunity for policy continuity and leaves wide open a field of barely differentiated presidential hopefuls."