Pampanga mayors to crush GMA 'token' rivals

MANILA, Philippines – Pampanga mayors vowed to crush any “token” opponent who would run against President Arroyo for a congressional seat in the second district of Pampanga.

Pampanga Mayors League (PML) president and Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda said Pampagueños would deliver a landslide victory for Mrs. Arroyo even if she does not actively campaign in Pampanga.

“There is no need for President Arroyo to campaign. We will give her an overwhelming mandate if she decides to seek a congressional seat,” Pineda told reporters in a forum last Friday.

Both Pampanga Governor Eduardo Panlilio and University of the Philippines (UP) professor Randy David expressed willingness to challenge President Arroyo for a congressional seat in Pampanga to thwart her alleged plans to be installed as prime minister once she wins a seat in Congress.

Pineda said he and other Pampanga mayors were sure that President Arroyo would run in next year’s elections based on her “body language.”

Pineda also dismissed Panlilio’s announcement that he may run against Mrs. Arroyo as nothing but political noise.

Pineda said mayors and residents of Floridablanca, Guagua, Macabebe, Porac, Santa Rita and Sasmuan have already pledged their full support to Mrs. Arroyo’s plans and were just waiting for her formal announcement.

 “We will just wait, we will not pre-empt the political plans of the President,” he said.

Pineda said Panlilio’s political clout has diminished in Pampanga after he was abandoned by his supporters and financiers due to his alleged mismanagement of the provincial government.

Pineda said the mayors had to seek direct help from President Arroyo in implementing their livelihood and infrastructure programs because the provincial government failed to access funds available from the national government.

“That is the reason why the President is personally visiting towns in the province, to find out and provide the needs of the people,” he said.

Floridablanca Mayor Eduardo Guerrero shared Pineda’s view that the economic benefits that Pampanga is now reaping would overshadow any political issue against the President.           

“Our town, with direct help from the President, is now the vegetable basket of the province, people are now self-sufficient”, he said.

Candaba Mayor Gerry Pelayo said even local chief executives in other districts of Pampanga were supportive to President Arroyo and vowed to campaign for her.

Magdalo to support David

Meanwhile, the Magdalo group headed by detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV expressed full support for Prof. David’s plan to run against President Arroyo in Pampanga.

“Our collective mission, as a people, should be to completely remove all the vestiges of the Arroyo administration in the coming elections so that our country can finally start its rebuilding process,” Trillanes said in a statement.

Trillanes also urged his supporters to back the senatorial plans of detained former Scout Ranger chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.

Both Trillanes and Lim are facing charges before military and civilian courts for allegedly attempting to topple President Arroyo. - With Jaime Laude