MANILA - Those dying to hear President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declare her political plan should just wait for the Dec. 1 deadline for the filing of certificate of candidacy (CoC), her election lawyer said yesterday.
“By Dec. 1, people will know whether she will run or not. Having a deadline for the filing of CoC, the people will not be surprised anymore if she’s indeed running,’’ Romulo Macalintal said. “Let’s just wait until Dec. 1. Let’s have more suspense on this issue.’’
The election body has set Dec. 1 as the last day for the filing of CoC for those seeking elective posts.
Macalintal turned up at a Malacañang briefing to address speculations Ms Arroyo would seek election as a lawmaker in 2010 representing her home province’s second district, and did little to douse these.
He reminded the public that seeking a congressional seat after serving the presidency should not be frowned upon.
“We should not belittle the Congress of the Philippines because it is a co-equal department of the executive and judicial branches of government,’’ he said in the joint briefing with Press Secretary Cerge Remonde. “So nobody can say she will go down a notch lower if ever she decides to run for that position.’’
Ms Arroyo has stirred speculations of her possible congressional run due to her nearly weekly forays to her hometown Lubao and other parts of Pampanga’s second congressional district.
But neither Ms Arroyo nor her spokespersons have been forthright about her political plan.
Macalintal said she has not discussed her plan after June 30, 2010.
“We have not even resolved her supposed plan to run for Congress, how much more her supposed plan to run for vice president?’’ he said, adding: “I think the President has other important things to do and think about, rather than concentrate on her political plans in the coming elections.’’
Whether she decides to run as a congressman or vice president, Ms Arroyo would be as capable in any of these posts, having served as a senator, vice president and president, the lawyer said.
Ms Arroyo’s long-time election lawyer reminded the public that Ms Arroyo is neither barred from seeking public office other than the presidency, nor is she mandated by law to resign if she files her CoC.
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