CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – As President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo inspected projects in Guagua yesterday morning, the possible gubernatorial bid of her son Rep. Mikey Arroyo was doused heavily as Vice Gov. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao formally declared his plan to run for governor in next year’s elections.
“The Pampanga Mayors’ League (PML) will stand by Yeng (Guiao) and the provincial board,” declared Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, spokesperson of the PML, before some 200 guests who gathered at the Benigno Aquino Hall at the Capitol grounds.
The guests were initially invited to commemorate the 75th birthday of Guiao’s late father, former Gov. Bren Z. Guiao. The younger Guiao ended the affair by announcing that “the best way to honor the memory of my father is to continue to serve the people he loved so much.”
“I formally declare my intent to run for governor,” he said.
Earlier, Mikey, who is on his second term as congressman representing this province’s second district, said he would run for governor should the President seek his congressional post next year. Speculations that Mrs. Arroyo would run for Congress was spawned by her unusually frequent visits to the second district of this province where she is a registered voter.
Guiao told Punto, however, that his decision to run was prompted by “a well planned and well coordinated declaration that will not step on toes of anybody (among political colleagues).”
He declined to be explicit about this, but he noted that “I don’t think the mayors will throw they support for me if they knew Mikey would run.”
Prominent business leader Rene Romero, chairman of the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL) and president of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry said business sectors in Pampanga are decided to support Guiao’s gubernatorial bid.
Romero told Punto that his group, reputed to be the biggest among local businessmen, will stick to its support for Guiao regardless of whether MIkey also runs for governor. “We already know Guiao. He is qualified, efficient, cooperative. As chairman of the provincial council, he acted swiftly on our proposals, at times even swiftly rejecting them, but he had always been efficient in his job,” he said.
Fr. Jun Mercado, one of the Pampanga priests known to be close to Pres. Arroyo, said he supported Guiao’s candidacy, but cautiously added he would still wait for further developments in local politics before finally making up his mind. Mercado officiated the Mass during the affair here.
In an interview with Punto after his speech expressing support for Guiao’s candidacy, Pelayo said he expressed the sentiments of the PML.
Asked whether the mayors would not change its sentiment in case Mikey runs, Pelayo replied “I am very sure Mikey will not run for governor.”
“Mikey might run for reelection but I can tell you he will not run for governor,” he stressed, but declined to explain further.
Pelayo said that mayors could “meet in five to 10 minutes and agree on who will be his (Guiao’ s) running mate.” There are reports that Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda will be his running mate.
In his speech after the Mass, Guiao said that he decided to run for governor after “much consultation with people with wisdom, experience, lots of prayers and discernment.” He also said that his family supported his decision.
Some sectors have also been urging San Fernando City Mayor Oscar Rodriguez to run for governor. Gov. Eddie Panlilio has remained undecided on whether to seek reelection, run for president, or return to priesthood.
After his speech expressing support for Guiao, Pelayo rushed to Guagua where the President arrived also in the morning.
The President led in the inauguration of the “Kalayaan” farm-to-market road in Barangay San Matias, inspected the Kalayaan barangay school building at the public school in Barangay Bangkal where a dental and medical mission was also held, met with the local peace and order council at the municipal hall, launched the National Youth Service Program at the Guagua East Central School in Barangay Sta. Filomena and inspected the construction of a slaughterhouse in Barangay San Agustin.
“The Pampanga Mayors’ League (PML) will stand by Yeng (Guiao) and the provincial board,” declared Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, spokesperson of the PML, before some 200 guests who gathered at the Benigno Aquino Hall at the Capitol grounds.
The guests were initially invited to commemorate the 75th birthday of Guiao’s late father, former Gov. Bren Z. Guiao. The younger Guiao ended the affair by announcing that “the best way to honor the memory of my father is to continue to serve the people he loved so much.”
“I formally declare my intent to run for governor,” he said.
Earlier, Mikey, who is on his second term as congressman representing this province’s second district, said he would run for governor should the President seek his congressional post next year. Speculations that Mrs. Arroyo would run for Congress was spawned by her unusually frequent visits to the second district of this province where she is a registered voter.
Guiao told Punto, however, that his decision to run was prompted by “a well planned and well coordinated declaration that will not step on toes of anybody (among political colleagues).”
He declined to be explicit about this, but he noted that “I don’t think the mayors will throw they support for me if they knew Mikey would run.”
Prominent business leader Rene Romero, chairman of the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL) and president of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry said business sectors in Pampanga are decided to support Guiao’s gubernatorial bid.
Romero told Punto that his group, reputed to be the biggest among local businessmen, will stick to its support for Guiao regardless of whether MIkey also runs for governor. “We already know Guiao. He is qualified, efficient, cooperative. As chairman of the provincial council, he acted swiftly on our proposals, at times even swiftly rejecting them, but he had always been efficient in his job,” he said.
Fr. Jun Mercado, one of the Pampanga priests known to be close to Pres. Arroyo, said he supported Guiao’s candidacy, but cautiously added he would still wait for further developments in local politics before finally making up his mind. Mercado officiated the Mass during the affair here.
In an interview with Punto after his speech expressing support for Guiao’s candidacy, Pelayo said he expressed the sentiments of the PML.
Asked whether the mayors would not change its sentiment in case Mikey runs, Pelayo replied “I am very sure Mikey will not run for governor.”
“Mikey might run for reelection but I can tell you he will not run for governor,” he stressed, but declined to explain further.
Pelayo said that mayors could “meet in five to 10 minutes and agree on who will be his (Guiao’ s) running mate.” There are reports that Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda will be his running mate.
In his speech after the Mass, Guiao said that he decided to run for governor after “much consultation with people with wisdom, experience, lots of prayers and discernment.” He also said that his family supported his decision.
Some sectors have also been urging San Fernando City Mayor Oscar Rodriguez to run for governor. Gov. Eddie Panlilio has remained undecided on whether to seek reelection, run for president, or return to priesthood.
After his speech expressing support for Guiao, Pelayo rushed to Guagua where the President arrived also in the morning.
The President led in the inauguration of the “Kalayaan” farm-to-market road in Barangay San Matias, inspected the Kalayaan barangay school building at the public school in Barangay Bangkal where a dental and medical mission was also held, met with the local peace and order council at the municipal hall, launched the National Youth Service Program at the Guagua East Central School in Barangay Sta. Filomena and inspected the construction of a slaughterhouse in Barangay San Agustin.
