Summary:
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s lawyer, Romulo Macalintal, stated in an interview over radio dzXL that Mrs. Arroyo can freely campaign for an electoral post for May 2010 election without filing a leave or resigning from her current position.
There is a spreading rumor that Mrs. Arroyo is seeking for a congressional seat in Pampanga next year. This rumor was further intensified when she frequently made a visit in the province, which was calculated to fall for 47 times already just this year.
Rep. Danilo Suarez, her political ally, also stated that Mrs. Arroyo would be an “asset” to the next administration if she runs and wins as vice-president.
Even though is there no formal announcement yet if Mrs. Arroyo will really run for the upcoming election, Macalintal still emphasized that there is no law prompting Mrs. Arroyo to resign or take a leave from the presidency while campaigning for an electoral. This was supported by the statement of lawyer Sixto Brillliantes about the declaration in RA 9006, which says “Anybody who runs for another office is not considered resigned.”
However, all of those claims are barred by the Section 4 of Article VII of the 1987 Constitution, which says “The President shall not be eligible for any re-election.” Until today, the provision has been the subject of many debates.
Comment:
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is probably the most controversial President of the country. Almost every year, new accusations are being thrown to her. There was the “Hello Garci” scandal and several corruption scandals. She also faced the threat of impeachment for a number of times.
The consistency of allegations to Mrs. Arroyo has severely distorted her image. Instead of being a public servant, she acted more as a self-servant. Working for her and her family’s own cause—expanding their riches in and out of the country and almost neglecting the needs of her people.
Now that her term is soon to end, the actions as well as the statements of her lawyer, Macalintal, including her other allies convey that Mrs. Arroyo is searching for new ways to keep her power and access to the riches of Juan De La Cruz. It seems that her eight years of sitting in the presidential position made her addicted to take a hold of power that she is badly craving for it now. Probably, nothing could really hinder this little woman with great ambition to stop her egoist pursuit; neither the failure of her Charter Change proposal nor the slamming voices of the masses will make her stop.
The issue now is not whether she could still run for the upcoming election, the issue is whether she would still deserve the trust of the people. Not unless she will cheat again that she could satisfy herself from her want to possess power in her hands for another time.
