GMA’s sis junks offer for her to run in 2nd district

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    CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Presidential elder sister Cielo Macapagal-Salgado has finally junked the offer of Gov. Eddie Panlilio for her to run for Congress in this province’s second district amid nagging talk that President  Arroyo will seek the post in next year’s May elections.

    “I will not file my candidacy,” said Salgado in a short text message to Punto, but she did not say whether her brother Arthur Macapagal, whom she earlier pushed for the post, would run instead. She declined further interviews although earlier, she said she had a “fifty-fifty” inclination to Panlilio’s invitation.

    This, even as the President’s election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said yesterday the President need not personally file her certificate of candidacy (COC) at the provincial office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) here once she decides to run for Congress.

    “The filing of COC shall be at the provincial election supervisor of Pampanga and cannot be done in Manila,” Macalintal told Punto yesterday, but added “there is no word yet if she’s running.”

    But he noted that “a duly authorized representative can file the COC” in the President’s behalf.

    Again, Macalintal stressed “there’s a strong clamor from leaders of the second district for her to run there.”

    Punto tried to reach presidential son Rep. Mikey Arroyo to find out whether he would seek a third term in the same district, as this could dispel nagging talk that his mother would seek his congressional post, but got no reply.

    The office of Comelec provincial supervisor Temmie Lambino said that as of yesterday neither the President nor Mikey had filed their COC’s at his office on the second floor along usually traffic-clogged B. Mendoza Street downtown of this city.

    Lambino said that the law prescribes that those running for congressmen, governor, vice governor and member of the provincial board are supposed to file their COC’s only at the provincial Comelec office. “But they can let anyone with authorization, such as one signed by a notary public or by a mayor, to file COC’s in their behalf,” he said.

    The deadline for the filing of COC is on Dec. 1. Lambino said that his office will remain open for those filing COC’s even this Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    At the gubernatorial level, however, the political situation seems to be shaping up.

    Earlier, Pampanga’s 1st district Rep. Carmelo Lazatin said he was sure former provincial board member Lilia Pineda, a close ally of Pres. Arroyo, will run for governor amid prospects that  Panlilio will seek reelection.

    Pineda, in a text message, said she preferred not to comment yet on whether she would reenter politics. In 2007, she ran under the Kabalikat ng Mamayang Pilipino (Kampi) party but lost to Panlilio by 1,147 votes.

    Sen.Lito Lapid earlier announced he would run for governor but has agreed to seek reelection under the administration’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD party reportedly upon the prodding of the President.

    Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao was the first to declare his gubernatorial bid in this province, but later said he would be willing to give way to Pineda should the latter decide to seek the post.

    Panlilio, who won as an independent candidate in 2007, was recently sworn into the Liberal Party (LP). He said that as of yesterday, his party was still looking for a gubernatorial standard bearer.

    Pineda’s electoral protest against Panlilio led to a recount of gubernatorial votes in Pampanga and has remained pending for resolution by Comelec’s second division. Second division Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer said , however, that he expected the case to be resolved by his division by the last week of November or the first week of this December.

    In an earlier exclusive interview, Salgado said that “family healing” will result if Pres. Arroyo would not run for Congress and instead pave the way for the candidacy of their brother Arthur.

    “I think her nine years as president should be enough and others should be allowed to take over,” Salgado said.

    She also urged Mikey to run for a provincial post, such as that of the vice governor.

    “There will be family healing even among our children if she (Pres. Arroyo) supports Arthur’s candidacy,” Salgado said.

    Salgado and Arthur were children of the late President by his first wife Purita de la Rosa, while the President and Diosdado Jr. were his children by his second wife former First Lady Eva Macaraig. The rift between Salgado and the President, even between their children, has been known even before Mrs. Arroyo assumed the presidency.

    Salgado, who had been vice governor of Pampanga during the term of Pres. Cory Aquino, noted that of the four children of the late Pres. Diosdado Macapagal, Arthur is the only one who has yet to occupy a government post. She noted that Diosdado Macapagal Jr. was once undersecretary of finance during the term of former Pres. Ramos.


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