Mayors to urge GMA to run

BINALONAN, Pangasinan — The country’s association of town mayors is set to pass a resolution this week urging President Arroyo to run for president next year.

Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico Jr., who is also president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), said he will call a meeting of the LMP’s 15-member executive committee, to discuss passing such a resolution endorsing Mrs. Arroyo.

The resolution will be officially approved by the LMP in their October 9 meeting for Luzon mayors at Westin Philippine Plaza in Manila with the President as guest.

The LMP passed an earlier resolution urging Mrs. Arroyo to run. But they will pass another for the President to see that they are firm on their earlier endorsement, Guico said.

The LMP has 1,500 members who belong to various political parties but majority of them are pro-Arroyo, Guico said, adding that the endorsement reflected the sentiment of the majority of LMP members.

Guico said the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats has no other strong contender except Mrs. Arroyo.

"I’m not saying this because I’m her cousin," said Guico, a second cousin of Mrs. Arroyo. Mrs. Arroyo’s mother, former First Lady Evangelina Macapagal, hailed from this town.

Guico expects Mrs. Arroyo will reconsider her December decision to withdraw from the 2004 race. Her announcement put Lakas in a quandary on who to nominate for president.

"That’s 90 percent sure. There are signs that I could feel she’s running," Guico said. He did not elaborate.

Asked if the LMP would endorse other candidates if Mrs. Arroyo decides not to change her mind, Guico said: "No."

Mrs. Arroyo gave the LMP a lot of help when they needed it, he said, explaining his answer.

Guico believes businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. will not seek the presidency if Mrs. Arroyo decides to rejoin the race.

"The two will not clash," he said.

However, it is still unclear if Cojuangco will run for the opposition or the administration.

Danding’s party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition, is part of Mrs. Arroyo’s political alliance, the People Power Coalition (PPC), of which Lakas is the dominant party.

Some Lakas members have pushed for Cojuangco’s candidacy but were chastised by the party leadership for speaking too soon.

Cojuangco is expected announce his decision whether or not to make a second bid for the presidency this week.