CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio will take his oath this Thursday as member of the Liberal Party, former provincial board member Lilia Pineda will run for governor and presidential sister Cielo Macapagal-Salgado remains undecided on a congressional bid in this province’s 2nd district, regardless of whether she would run against her sister Pres. Arroyo or her nephew Rep. Mikey Arroyo.
These are among the latest developments in this province as the political tempo continues to beat faster towards the May 2010 automated elections next year.
In a text message to Punto Central Luzon, Panlilio, who has remained without any political party since he won the governorship as an independent candidate in 2007, said he will take his oath as LP member on Thursday in the party’s political gathering in Cubao, Quezon City.
“But NOT for senator. Not yet for gov,” his text message said, with the word not spelled in capitals in the first sentence referring to his possible senatorial bid.
His being sworn into the LP has virtually erased his earlier option of returning to priesthood. An official of the provincial capitol who asked to be named noted that “it would be absurd for Among Ed (Panlilio) to return to being a priest soon after affiliating himself with LP.”
Panlilio earlier said the LP had earlier invited him and Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca to join its senatorial slate.
“Panlilio has good chances of winning as a senator. I doubt if he will make it in a gubernatorial reelection bid because most of his supporters have already left him,” said 1st district Rep. Carmelo Lazatin, considered as one of this province’s political patriarch.
Catholic Church officials in Pampanga said that Panlilio should seek dispensation and finally leave priesthood should he decide again to seek a political post next year.
Lazatin said that Mrs. Pineda, whose electoral case against Panlilio is expected to be resolved before next year’s polls, will definitely run for governor.
Pineda, who was the candidate of the administration Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi) party, lost to Panlilio by 1,147 votes.
“I was assured she will run. Dennis also told me it’s definite,” Lazatin said, referring to Pineda’s son Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda who is also president of the Pampanga Mayors’ League.
Punto Central Luzon could not immediately reach Mrs. Pineda who is known to be a close friend of the President.
Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao, who earlier announced his gubernatorial bid, said he would be willing to give way to Pineda, as he noted that he still is entitled to a third vice gubernatorial term.
“We will definitely not clash against each other,” Guiao said.
At the same time, Cielo Macapagal-Salgado, elder half-sister of Pres. Arroyo, said in a text message yesterday that she has remained undecided on whether to seek the congressional post in Pampanga’s second district, when asked whether she would run for the post regardless of whether the President or her nephew Mikey would also seek the same office.
Salgado, in an earlier interview, recalled that in the 2004 elections, his brother Arthur was supposed to run for Congress in the second district but gave way to Mikey. She and Arthur are children of the late Pres. Diosdado Macapagal by his first wife.
The President’s unusually frequent visits to the second district continued to fuel speculations she would run for Congress.
Her son Mikey, who is merely on his second term representing the district, will reportedly run under a sports-oriented partylist.
For his part, Guiao also said that he expected pro-administration political leaders to keep their ranks strong amid expectations that more rivalry from opposition camps in next year’s polls.
“We have to keep strong at the local level because unlike before when almost all candidates were pro-administration, the next elections will see candidates from parties not allied with the administration,” he said.
Sen. Lito Lapid earlier announced he would run for Pampanga governor. City of San Fernando City Mayor Oscar Rodriguez said he would seek a third term, but various sectors have been urging him to run for governor.
These are among the latest developments in this province as the political tempo continues to beat faster towards the May 2010 automated elections next year.
In a text message to Punto Central Luzon, Panlilio, who has remained without any political party since he won the governorship as an independent candidate in 2007, said he will take his oath as LP member on Thursday in the party’s political gathering in Cubao, Quezon City.
“But NOT for senator. Not yet for gov,” his text message said, with the word not spelled in capitals in the first sentence referring to his possible senatorial bid.
His being sworn into the LP has virtually erased his earlier option of returning to priesthood. An official of the provincial capitol who asked to be named noted that “it would be absurd for Among Ed (Panlilio) to return to being a priest soon after affiliating himself with LP.”
Panlilio earlier said the LP had earlier invited him and Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca to join its senatorial slate.
“Panlilio has good chances of winning as a senator. I doubt if he will make it in a gubernatorial reelection bid because most of his supporters have already left him,” said 1st district Rep. Carmelo Lazatin, considered as one of this province’s political patriarch.
Catholic Church officials in Pampanga said that Panlilio should seek dispensation and finally leave priesthood should he decide again to seek a political post next year.
Lazatin said that Mrs. Pineda, whose electoral case against Panlilio is expected to be resolved before next year’s polls, will definitely run for governor.
Pineda, who was the candidate of the administration Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi) party, lost to Panlilio by 1,147 votes.
“I was assured she will run. Dennis also told me it’s definite,” Lazatin said, referring to Pineda’s son Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda who is also president of the Pampanga Mayors’ League.
Punto Central Luzon could not immediately reach Mrs. Pineda who is known to be a close friend of the President.
Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao, who earlier announced his gubernatorial bid, said he would be willing to give way to Pineda, as he noted that he still is entitled to a third vice gubernatorial term.
“We will definitely not clash against each other,” Guiao said.
At the same time, Cielo Macapagal-Salgado, elder half-sister of Pres. Arroyo, said in a text message yesterday that she has remained undecided on whether to seek the congressional post in Pampanga’s second district, when asked whether she would run for the post regardless of whether the President or her nephew Mikey would also seek the same office.
Salgado, in an earlier interview, recalled that in the 2004 elections, his brother Arthur was supposed to run for Congress in the second district but gave way to Mikey. She and Arthur are children of the late Pres. Diosdado Macapagal by his first wife.
The President’s unusually frequent visits to the second district continued to fuel speculations she would run for Congress.
Her son Mikey, who is merely on his second term representing the district, will reportedly run under a sports-oriented partylist.
For his part, Guiao also said that he expected pro-administration political leaders to keep their ranks strong amid expectations that more rivalry from opposition camps in next year’s polls.
“We have to keep strong at the local level because unlike before when almost all candidates were pro-administration, the next elections will see candidates from parties not allied with the administration,” he said.
Sen. Lito Lapid earlier announced he would run for Pampanga governor. City of San Fernando City Mayor Oscar Rodriguez said he would seek a third term, but various sectors have been urging him to run for governor.
