Gonzalez eyes Iloilo mayoralty in 2010

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez is eyeing a local elective post in his hometown in Iloilo province in next year’s elections.

“President Arroyo’s term will end in 2010 and I can’t expect the next administration to appoint me so I will probably just serve my people there in Iloilo,” he told reporters in an interview inside his office in Manila.

Gonzalez said he expects elections to push through next year, which led him to consider running for mayor in Iloilo City.

“In my case, I can go back to law practice since I’ve been practicing law even before I was appointed Justice Secretary or I could run. The best option for me is to run for mayor. I would like to spend my remaining time in government in my own home,” he said.

He said he might also consider running for congressman but only if his son, Raul Jr., who currently holds this post, would yield to him.

The Justice chief said his decision to seek elective office could be “best proof that there will be election next year.”

He said other Cabinet officials are also considering venturing into elective posts, citing for example Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who is planning to join the congressional race in Cebu.

Gonzalez said it only shows that the administration of President Arroyo is not desperate in extending its term of office after 2010 through Charter change.

“That’s a controversial issue which need judicial interpretation because of fault of the Constitution itself (on the issue of the two chambers of Congress voting separately or jointly in amending the Charter through constituent assembly),” he said.