Mikey Arroyo’s rival backs out

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga Presidential son Mikey Arroyo celebrated his 32nd birthday here yesterday with a big political surprise: vice gubernatorial rival and fellow movie actor Roi Vinzon unexpectedly announced he was backing out to support him.

Vinzon announced in a press conference that his decision had the blessings of higher officials of the Nationalist People’s Coalition-Buklod Kapampangan party.

"I was not pressured to back out. I consulted my mother, my wife and political associates and they all supported my plan to sacrifice my political career," Vinzon said.

Vinzon added, "It’s not a question of who is more qualified or more popular, but who could be of help to Pampanga at this time."

He said Mikey, being the son of President Arroyo, would be of significant help to Pampanga which, he said, has been neglected by the past administration.

Vinzon filed his candidacy as running mate of Bacolor Mayor Ananias Canlas, who is challenging Mikey’s running mate, re-electionist Gov. Lito Lapid of Lakas-NUCD.

Vice Gov. Clayton Olalia, who earlier had also junked his plan for re-election to give way to Mikey, accompanied Vinzon to the press conference.

Vinzon, however, asked Mikey to allow him to still serve their provincemates by appointing him even to a minor post in the provincial government. He did not elaborate.

He said Canlas gave him "moral support" in his decision to drop out of the vice gubernatorial race. "But I will always support Canlas in his gubernatorial bid," he added.

Mikey celebrated his birthday with a concelebrated Mass led by San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto at the San Fernando Cathedral before a simple breakfast of pan de sal, puto, tamales and ground pork.

"I’ve always had a simple birthday celebration, and my birthdays should even be simpler now that my mother is the President," he said.

After breakfast, he led the supplementary feeding of some 300 children of indigent families in Barangay San Agustin here before proceeding to another simple luncheon with a few guests at a restaurant.

After the press conference, Olalia invited Vinzon to Mikey’s lunch party where they embraced and vowed to help each other in development projects in the province.

With Vinzon out of the race, Mikey is sure to be Pampanga’s next vice governor. Another candidate, Allan Villanueva of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino, is unknown to local voters.