MANILA, Philippines— Outgoing President Macapagal-Arroyo is not about to hang her political gloves just yet.

A key political supporter eager to keep Ms Arroyo in government service announced on Sunday that the President had been finally “convinced” to seek a congressional seat in Pampanga in response to an “overwhelming clamor” from local leaders.

Candaba, Pampanga Mayor Jerry Pelayo said Ms Arroyo found difficulty turning her back on the purported clamor, especially after local politicians led by her own son trooped to the Palace to personally egg her on to run.

“Lalaban, sa dami ng nakiusap (She will run because of so many people who asked her to),” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.

Pelayo cited Ms Arroyo’s “body language” during the Friday and Saturday affairs wherein local leaders, businessmen, and farmers went to Malacañang to express their support behind her candidacy.

“Masayang-masaya sya (She was very happy),” he said. “She was moved.”

In his supposed heart-to-heart talk with the President, Pelayo said he told her in Filipino: “Ma’am, Pampanga needs you. You’ve served this country already. It’s now time that we all work for our province.”

Over the past few weeks, allies have been portraying Ms Arroyo as a reluctant congressional candidate needing her Pampanga constituents to convince her to remain in the political arena. But
critics said her attitude was often betrayed by her frequent visits to her home province, often to inaugurate even the simplest infrastructure project such as a minor side street.

Shortly after the mass killings in Maguindanao last week, Ms Arroyo went to Pampanga again despite expectations that she would fly to Maguindanao to personally check on the situation there.

Romulo Macalintal, Ms Arroyo’s election lawyer, said on Sunday her expected congressional run should not be seen in the context of her eventually serving either as House speaker—or, in case of a shift to a parliamentary government—as prime minister.

“Excuse me for saying this, but I don’t think the next president would be too dumb to hand over the leadership to her after all that he has invested in the presidency,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Macalintal said even the possibility of Ms Arroyo heading the House of Representatives remained uncertain until the composition of the chamber was determined after the May 2010 elections.

“We’re not even sure which political group would gain control over it,” he said.

“I thought the President is so unpopular, so what are these critics so afraid of her running again?” he asked.