STA. RITA, Pampanga – After inaugurating a farm-to-market road here last April 30, Pres. Arroyo again visited yesterday this town within this province’s second district, this time to attend its fiesta and visit more projects in four barangays.
Only last May 11, the President also visited remote island Barangays Batang 1 and Batang 2 in Sasmuan town, also in the second district represented in Congress by her eldest son Rep. Mikey Arroyo.
The President and her son are registered voters in Lubao, also within Pampanga’s second district. Her visit to the same district yesterday was the 13th since last February, mostly coupled with medical and dental service missions for local folk.
The President arrived at this town’s poblacion area in Barangay San Jose, in time for a mass at 10 a.m. officiated by her friend San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto at the Sta. Rita church.
This town’s Mayor Yolanda Pineda is the wife of Pampanga Mayors’ League (PML) president Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda, eldest son of Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda, once tagged as a gambling lord, and former provincial board member Lilia Pineda, who was defeated by Gov. Eddie Panlilio in the 2007 gubernatorial race.
As in most of other presidential visits to this province, Panlilio was again not present here yesterday. Earlier, he said that the President’s recent forays to the second district indicated further political plans.
Bacolor Mayor Buddy Dungca told Punto that the PML will continue to support Pres. Arroyo regardless of her political plans in the 2010 elections.
Dungca, a close friend of presidential son Mikey, said that the President’s frequent visits to her district in the past months could indicate she had further political plans, including running for congress in the 2010 polls.
Despite conflicts in the Lower House on Charter change, this city’s Rep. Carmelo Lazatin, a close ally of Pres. Arroyo, insisted that she would run for congress in the 2010 elections if a “chance presented itself”.
The chance, Lazatin said, refers to the possibility of a Charter change that would pave the way for a parliamentary government. He said that once the proposed changes, including a shift to parliamentary system of government in the Charter is approved, a plebiscite on it would be held together with the elections in May next year.
If the plebiscite is favorably voted upon by the people, the new Charter would be implemented immediately and absorb the newly elected members of Congress into the Parliament where Mrs. Arroyo would then be elected prime minister, he also said.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, a major ally of the Arroyo government in the House, has, however, already withdrawn his support for any Charter change and even vowed to block it.
Villafuerte has earlier pushed for a Senate-less constitutional assembly (con-ass) approach to Cha-cha, a move that conflicted with the proposal of Speaker Prospero Nograles for a constitutional convention (con-con).
Only last May 11, the President also visited remote island Barangays Batang 1 and Batang 2 in Sasmuan town, also in the second district represented in Congress by her eldest son Rep. Mikey Arroyo.
The President and her son are registered voters in Lubao, also within Pampanga’s second district. Her visit to the same district yesterday was the 13th since last February, mostly coupled with medical and dental service missions for local folk.
The President arrived at this town’s poblacion area in Barangay San Jose, in time for a mass at 10 a.m. officiated by her friend San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto at the Sta. Rita church.
This town’s Mayor Yolanda Pineda is the wife of Pampanga Mayors’ League (PML) president Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda, eldest son of Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda, once tagged as a gambling lord, and former provincial board member Lilia Pineda, who was defeated by Gov. Eddie Panlilio in the 2007 gubernatorial race.
As in most of other presidential visits to this province, Panlilio was again not present here yesterday. Earlier, he said that the President’s recent forays to the second district indicated further political plans.
Bacolor Mayor Buddy Dungca told Punto that the PML will continue to support Pres. Arroyo regardless of her political plans in the 2010 elections.
Dungca, a close friend of presidential son Mikey, said that the President’s frequent visits to her district in the past months could indicate she had further political plans, including running for congress in the 2010 polls.
Despite conflicts in the Lower House on Charter change, this city’s Rep. Carmelo Lazatin, a close ally of Pres. Arroyo, insisted that she would run for congress in the 2010 elections if a “chance presented itself”.
The chance, Lazatin said, refers to the possibility of a Charter change that would pave the way for a parliamentary government. He said that once the proposed changes, including a shift to parliamentary system of government in the Charter is approved, a plebiscite on it would be held together with the elections in May next year.
If the plebiscite is favorably voted upon by the people, the new Charter would be implemented immediately and absorb the newly elected members of Congress into the Parliament where Mrs. Arroyo would then be elected prime minister, he also said.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, a major ally of the Arroyo government in the House, has, however, already withdrawn his support for any Charter change and even vowed to block it.
Villafuerte has earlier pushed for a Senate-less constitutional assembly (con-ass) approach to Cha-cha, a move that conflicted with the proposal of Speaker Prospero Nograles for a constitutional convention (con-con).
