There is no legal impediment that will prevent President Arroyo from seeking a congressional seat in her district in Pampanga. She is not even required by law to resign from the presidency should she decide to run for congress this coming 2010 general elections. Apparently, the COMELEC resolution requiring political candidates to resign from their current government posts upon filing candidacy has been revoked. According to a recent survey, the voters and politicians in the second congressional district of Pampanga are solid in their support for the President just in case she runs for congress. Combine this with strong political machinery, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would be unbeatable in the congressional race.
What then prompted Prof. Randy David to decide to pose a challenge against a political juggernaut if he knew that he would surely be crushed? Although a popular public figure himself, Prof. David lack the experience and resources to vie for a congressional seat in a province that is dominated by the Macapagal-Arroyo political dynasty. Prof. Randy David’s public announcement that he would challenge Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should she decide to run as congressional representative is nothing short of being quixotic.
If ever President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo indeed run for congress, it would not be an issue of legality. It would be an issue of ethics. Filipinos call it delicadeza or kahihiyan. It would not be an issue of winning but an issue of motive. What exactly is the reasonable and ethical motive of GMA to run for a lower position. Although she is silent about the allegations, her recent actions clearly demonstrate that she is already campaigning in her district, pouring deluge of projects using public funds but claiming credits for it.
Prof. David has the right motive but he is unlikely to win considering the political immaturity of the Filipino voters. Patronage politics is still the status quo. For instance, one Pampanga mayor stated in a TV interview that he will not support Prof. Randy David simply because, unlike Gloria, the professor had never donated even a single basketball court.
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