Akbayan launches 'Deny the Arroyos' drive in Pampanga

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga , Philippines  – The militant Akbayan party-list group is launching here today the “Deny the Arroyos” campaign to prevent presidential son Rep. Mikey Arroyo from being nominated by another party-list group for the May elections.

In an invitation to the local media, Liberal Party (LP) guest senatorial candidate and Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros and Akbayan second nominee Kaka Bag-ao said they would ask the people of Pampanga “to deny the Arroyos their vote” in the May elections.

They added that they would ask Kapampangans “to support reform-minded leaders” like re-electionist Gov. Ed Panlilio, second district congressional candidate Dennis Simpao, and Panlilio’s vice gubernatorial running mate Marco Lazatin in the upcoming polls.

Rep. Arroyo, however, told The STAR that he has not yet decided on whether to accept proposals from various party-list groups to be their nominee for Congress.

“Nothing is finalized until the names (of party-list) nominees are submitted,” he said.

“I don’t know why they (critics) are hitting me on this. Maybe they simply dislike me or my family. But like a good Christian, I will even offer my other cheek despite the brickbats they have been throwing against my family,” he added.

Earlier, outgoing Bacolor, Pampanga Mayor Buddy Dungca said Rep. Arroyo and last-term Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda are seeking congressional seats as nominees of the party-list group Ang Galing Pinoy (AGP), which represents marginalized sectors, including security guards and drivers.

Reports said the controversy triggered by Dungca’s revelation has scuttled Rep. Arroyo’s plan to run as AGP nominee.

Sources said another party-list group, the Association of Laborers and Employees (ALE), would likely be Rep. Arroyo’s venue for another congressional term.

According to the ALE website (ale.com.ph), the group was founded by former mayor Catalina Bagasina of Sasmuan town, which is part of Pampanga’s second district where President Arroyo is running for Congress.

Rep. Arroyo is only on his second term as congressman representing the second district but gave way to the congressional bid of his mother, who is being challenged by Simpao.