A Facebook statement posted for her by her staff noted that as precincts closed for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) at 5 p.m. last Friday, no other candidate had filed for the position of congressman in the second district of Pampanga.
It noted that Mrs. Arroyo “will be running unopposed.”
“Thank you for the love and support,” the statement said, even as the former president tagged her name with the declaration “feeling loved.”
The former president will be running for a third and final term as congresswoman under the Lakas-CMD party.
She is a registered voter in Barangay San Nicolas in Lubao town, birthplace of her late father former Pres. Diosdado Macapagal.
She has remained detained at the Veterans Memorial Hospital amid graft charges in connection with the use of intelligence fund of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office during her term as president. Her son Mikey Arroyo, who was once congressman representing the same district, filed her COC for reelection.
Mrs. Arroyo’s allies are also running unopposed in Pampanga, including Gov. Lilia Pineda and her son Vice Gov. Dennis Pineda.
In the other three districts of Pampanga, incumbents are facing challenges from other candidates. In the 1st District, Rep. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao of the Liberal Party (LP) is being challenged by Carmelo Lazatin, independent Edwin Bacay, and Juan Pagaran of the Partido Bagong Maharlika.
Third District Rep. Oscar Rodriguez, also of LP, is being challenged by Aurelio Gonzalez of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), and independent candidates Jose Quiwa and Amado Santos.
In the 4th District, Rep. Juan Bondoc of the Nationalista Party will face NPC’s Oscar Tetangco Jr.
