GMA may yet hit the campaign trail in Pampanga

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – Malacañang said President Arroyo may yet hit the campaign trail in the second district of Pampanga where she is running for Congress.

“I personally do not know her schedule, but we think that she is not presumptuous. We think she will campaign in her district soon,” said Renato Lee Jr. of the Office of the Press Secretary.

Lee issued the statement after The STAR relayed a query to Press Secretary Crispulo Icban Jr. on whether the President still has plans of resuming her visits to the second district to campaign.

Mrs. Arroyo’s rival, Liberal Party candidate Adonis Simpao, said in a press conference here that it no longer matters whether she would hit the campaign trail or not, as she had already campaigned even before the start of the official campaign period for local candidates last March 26.

“She used her powers as President to pour in some P400 million worth of projects in the second district. I do not begrudge her for the projects which have benefited my fellow Kapampangans in our district, but people should know her real motive which is really to perpetuate herself in power and protect herself and her family from any culpability after she steps down from the presidency,” Simpao said.

Lee, quoting Icban, said the President has failed to campaign in the second district since the first day of the campaign period because of the heart ailment of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and her commitments abroad.

The President was supposed to attend a Mass at San Agustin Church in her hometown of Lubao last March 26 to launch her and her allies’ campaign for local posts.

She, however, did not attend as she opted to be by her husband’s side at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City two days earlier.

“But we expect her to campaign in the second district soon,” Lee said.

Before the start of the campaign period for local posts, Mrs. Arroyo frequented the second district, with at least 50 visits since last February alone.

She launched, inspected or announced more projects during her visits, during which free medical and dental services were also offered.

Except for her posters, Mrs. Arroyo has not personally campaigned in the second district since March 26.

Meanwhile, Simpao said he is trying to enlighten local voters on the alleged motive of Mrs. Arroyo in seeking a congressional post, rather than directly seeking votes for him.

“People should be made to understand that her motive is not really to serve Kapampangans as she had declared, as she already had that chance as senator, vice president and president for nine years now,” he said.

“Besides, if she really wanted to serve Kapampangans more, why did she not run for governor to cover the entire province and chose to run for congresswoman covering only the second district?” he asked.