GMA to make 17th sortie to Pampanga

GUAGUA, Pampanga, Philippines — Unfazed by reports that her frequent visits to her district in this province are part of a plan to run for Congress to perpetuate herself in power, President Arroyo will again visit today this town in her district.

It will be her 17th sortie this year to Pampanga and her 14th to the second district where she is a registered voter.

Earlier, some members of her Cabinet virtually confirmed her congressional plans.

This, even as Gov. Eddie Panlilio joined a newly formed coalition called “Pampanga Kontra sa Cha-cha.”

The coalition was formed on Independence Day last June 12 during a forum led by the Kilusan Para sa Pambansang Demokrasya-Central Luzon (KPD-CL).

The coalition is composed of church-based organizations, civil society groups, farmers associations and groups from academe opposed to House Resolution 1109, a proposal calling for a constituent assembly.

Some sectors, including political allies of the President in this province, have disclosed plans of pro-administration congressmen to push for Charter change to effect a parliamentary system of government whose legislature would absorb congressmen who will win in next year’s May polls.

This would allegedly pave the way for Mrs. Arroyo to eventually be elected Prime Minister in the new parliament.

Officials from vote-rich Guagua said the President will be in Barangay Ascomo in their town today to lead in the groundbreaking ceremony and capsule-laying for the construction of a P15-million pumping station, which will benefit about 567 households in that area and another 5,000 households in adjacent barangays.

Mrs. Arroyo is also slated to visit barangays Pulungmasle, Lambac, Natividad, Maquiapo, and San Vicente Ebus in Guagua to inspect the construction of new school buildings, farm-to-market roads, and water system.

She is also expected to distribute livelihood assistance packages.

Kapampangan leaders have expressed support for the President’s reported congressional bid.

Former Angeles mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, now chairman of the North Luzon Railways Corp. and the Subic-Clark Alliance Development Council, and Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo said the President will readily and overwhelmingly win in Pampanga’s second district because of the many projects implemented in the area during her administration.

For them, non-Kapampangans should not interfere if Mrs. Arroyo opts to further help her “cabalens” as congresswoman.

“If there will be Charter change that could prolong her stay in power, the people should be allowed to decide in a plebiscite. But Kapampangans should be left to themselves in their desire to be served further by Mrs. Arroyo if she decides to run for Congress. There is nothing wrong with that,” said Pelayo, one of the top leaders of the administration party Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi).

Bacolor Mayor Buddy Dungca, known to be a close friend of the President’s eldest son Mikey, also believes that the President is considering running for Congress next year. Mikey, who is on his second term in Congress representing the second district, will reportedly run for governor.

Dungca expressed belief that the President’s reported plan to seek a congressional post could be the reason why she has been frequenting areas, including remote island barangays in the second district.

Her recent visits have also been coupled with medical-dental missions for local folk, unlike her visits in the previous years.

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal, the President’s election legal counsel, said that Mrs. Arroyo need not resign even if she runs for congress.  

Macalintal cited Section 67 of the Omnibus Election Code “which provides that an incumbent elective official who runs for a position other than the one he or she is holding in an incumbent capacity had been repealed under Section 14 of RA 9006, Fair Election Act of 2000.”

“In other words, any elective official who runs for any other position retains his or her position during the entire campaign period till election day since their term of office ends at noon of June 30, 2010,” he said.

Pampanga Commission on Elections (Comelec) chief Temmie Lambino said Mrs. Arroyo could indeed seek a congressional post and is “prohibited only from seeking reelection according to the Constitution.”

But noted lawyer Ernesto Francisco, one of the volunteer lawyers of Panlilio during the 2007 gubernatorial polls, urged the President “not to run for the country’s sake.”

“At any rate, any move on her part to run for Congress is proof she is behind con-ass (constituent assembly). The two moves complement each other,” he said.