PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE — PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo makes history as the Palace branded as “baloney” criticisms that she only wants to be protected by immunity, hence her congressional bid in her home province in Lubao, Pampanga.
Also yesterday, Press Secretary Cerge M. Remonde said the Palace is looking forward to a 90-percent victory for the President as representative of Pampanga’s second district in the May 2010 elections.
The President, who came from a Mass organized by her supporters in her late father’s hometown of Lubao, personally filed her certificate of candidacy yesterday at about 10:37 a.m. at the Commission on Elections office in San Fernando City.
An upbeat President who was all smiles was mobbed by supporters as she arrived at the Comelec office.
It’s the first time that a sitting President is running for Congress.
First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo along with mayors and other officials in Pampanga accompanied the President in filing her CoC.
The mood was festive in Lubao as the President’s Cabalens hosted a Mass and a short program before the filing of her CoC. It served as presidential son’s Rep. Mikey Arroyo Arroyo’s farewell event.
He thanked God in his speech in Kapampangan for the opportunity to give way to his mother to represent the district at the House of Representative as he bade his second term goodbye.
Father Bogs Moraleja who celebrated the Mass at the St. Augustine Church praised Mrs. Arroyo’s humility for stooping down, stressing it is now unprecedented, as he likened the President’s candidacy to the action of Jesus Christ who he said went down to serve.
The second district is composed of the towns of Lubao, Guagua, Floridablanca, Porac, Sta. Rita and Sasmuan.
Mrs. Arroyo will dispute the position against Feliciano Serrano, an electronics engineer, who filed his CoC on Monday.
Her frequent visits of at least 50 times this year to the province had fueled rumors that she will run for congresswoman of Pampanga’s second district after her term expires in 2010.
But Malacañang had repeatedly parried questions on whether Mrs. Arroyo was gunning for a House seat.
Remonde said that immunity can only be availed of when one committed libelous remarks at the halls of Congress.
The Palace official also said that neither the speakership nor the prime minister posts are not yet in the bag, pointing out that it cannot be assured.
“Alam mo naman ’yung Speaker, depende ’yan kung sino ang presidente. ’Yung prime minister depende ’yan kung magkakaroon ng Charter change,” he said.