Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo arrives with husband, Jose Miguel, at the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court in Quezon City, Metro Manila, April 11, 2012. Arroyo entered a plead of not guilty to allegations of graft and corruption in the tainted telecommunications deal with China in 2007. REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo (PHILIPPINES – Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will file her certificate of candidacy for the congressional seat of the 2nd district of Pampanga next week.
Lawyer Raul Lambino, an official of Arroyo’s Lakas CMD party, said he is preparing Arroyo’s nomination. Arroyo is up for one more term in the 2016 elections.
“Pagkakaalam ko, magpa-file siya para sa kinatawan ng ikalawang distrito ng Pampanga under Lakas CMD. Pine-prepare ko na ang kaniyang CONA (certifcate of nomination and acceptance) as official candidate of LAKAS.”
Arroyo, who is detained on a plunder charge for the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds, need not personally file her candidacy.
“Most likely, isa sa staff namin based sa Pampanga [ang magpa-file]. Hindi pa niya sinasabi anong date.”
Lambino said Arroyo has yet to pick the presidential candidate she will back in the elections, and that Lakas has no party choice yet.
So far, the Lakas members have individual preferences, he said.
Lakas chairman Danilo Suarez is backing Vice-President Jejomar Binay. Lambino himself is backing Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who has yet to finalize his plans.
“Walang party stand kung sino susuportahang president. Wala pa rin ako napipili, hindi pa officially nagdedeclare.”
Lambino believes Duterte will declare his plans anytime before the filing of COCs next week.
“I don’t have any solid information,” he said, however.
Lambino said in the last election Arroyo, scored more than 96% of the votes in her district. They have no information yet who will be running against Arroyo.
Arroyo has been unable to attend sessions at the Lower House because of her detention. Lambino, however, said this did not stop her from doing her work.
“Despite the fact that she cannot attend session, marami siyang pina-file na bills. Most of the bills are significant kaya maraming napapa-approve sa committee level, na-approve sa 3rd reading.
Even some bills alam ko pinag-uusapan sa Senate.”
Arroyo is a member of two committees in Congress: Energy and Trade And Industry. Arroyo authored 53 measures and co-authored 207 others in the 16th Congress. (MNS)