MANILA, Philippines?The allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Pampanga have yet to hear it straight from her mouth, but without official word?and even with strong denials from Palace officials?they welcomed the idea of her contesting Pampanga?s second district seat.

?As a Kapampangan, I certainly favor [Ms Arroyo?s] continued service and leadership in government in whatever capacity, especially as it concerns Pampanga,? said Rep. Aurelio Gonzales, of the third district.

He was commenting on an Inquirer report that Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman had categorically stated that the President would run for a congressional seat in her home province.

San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, a member of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD, said Ms Arroyo?s running for Congress was a ?welcome development for Pampanga ... it means a competent representative.?

Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao, a leader of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), the party founded by Ms Arroyo, said running for Congress was an option for Ms Arroyo, ?as long as there?s no legal impediment.?

13 visits

The President has visited the second district 13 times since Feb. 24, visiting remote villages. The town has some of the most vote-rich districts. The frequent visits and the scale of services she has brought there have fueled questions and speculations as to her plans after 2010.

The incumbent representative of Pampanga?s second district is the President?s eldest son, Juan Miguel or Mikey, who is only on his second term.

Better than Cha-cha

Opposition senators welcomed Ms Arroyo?s reported plans to run for Congress.

It is better than changing the Constitution so she can prolong her stay in power, said Sen. Francis Pangilinan.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel said Ms Arroyo has finally laid her cards on the table.

?The move undressed the queen and disclosed what she has been shielding from the public eye: tucked between her bosoms [sic] is a certificate of candidacy already filled up, ready for filing at the appropriate time,? he said in a text message.

But Gonzales, who is known to be close to Ms Arroyo, said the President has not intimated nor even hinted at her congressional plans.

?I think it is more of a clear option than a concrete plan at this point. The possibility points in that direction,? Gonzales said.

Various Malacañang officials on Saturday denied that Pangandaman ever told reporters at a luncheon in Cotabato City on Friday, following the Independence Day celebrations in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, that Ms Arroyo had disclosed her plans to run at the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) meeting in Malacañang last Thursday.

?Misquoted?

Gabriel Claudio, the presidential political adviser, said Pangandaman had called him early Saturday to say that he had been ?misquoted.?

?He said he was referring to his plan to run in his congressional district in Lanao del Sur, not the President?s,? Claudio said in a phone interview.

Claudio said he was certain that Ms Arroyo has never spoken to any Cabinet member, including Pangandaman, about her plans after 2010.

?What?s his basis for saying that? He has not talked to the President about it. I know of no Cabinet official who has spoken to the President about any plans of hers to run as member of Congress,? he said.

Claudio, who is also secretary general of the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD, disputed that Ms Arroyo disclosed her plans to run at the Ledac, calling it ?preposterous.?

He said neither the 2010 elections nor Charter change was mentioned at the meeting, which focused only on one item?the revenue measures that are pending in Congress.

?In what context would the President talk about it? We were all there. The President could not have spoken about such a plan. You ask anybody who was there. There was no mention about talk of 2010 from anyone,? he said.

But he confirmed that Pangandaman was at the Ledac meeting.

More denial
Edgardo Pamintuan, the head of Malacañang?s external affairs office and chair of the Luzon Urban Beltway super region, also said Pangandaman had denied having said that Ms Arroyo would run for Pampanga representative.

?He said he had just arrived and reporters asked him if he was running for congressman. He said he was open to it. He said it was his option. It?s not true that he said that GMA is running for Congress,? Pamintuan said.

Pangandaman did not answer or return calls from the Inquirer.

But he told ABS-CBN television late Friday that he was ?probably misquoted? and that he was discussing his own plans for the 2010 elections.

?I was asked by some friends in the media that they had heard reports that I?m also running for Congress in the 2010 elections. I told them that I?m studying that option and I will discuss this with my political allies in the province of Misamis,? he told ABS-CBN.

Witnesses
A bureau chief of the government-run Philippine News Agency who was present at the luncheon where Pangandaman made the statement about Ms Arroyo?s candidacy plans has refused to make any comment on what he heard.

Noel Punzalan, bureau chief of the PNA in Cotabato City, said he felt there was no news anymore after Pangandaman followed up what he had said about Ms Arroyo with a remark that it was ?off the record.?

Oscar Sampulna, the ARMM executive secretary who was also present at the luncheon and presumably heard what Pangandaman said, has refused to answer calls.

Ms Arroyo?s political plans after 2010 have become a touchy issue in the face of the administration-sponsored Charter change campaign, seen by her critics as a ploy to keep her in power through a parliamentary system.

Delicadeza

San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, acknowledged to be the President?s spiritual adviser, is also in the dark about her plans. They last met in Sta. Rita town during her visit there on May 22.

?I am sure the President will subject this to prayerful discernment and see what is for the common good of the people,? Aniceto said.

Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio, a critic of the President, said Ms Arroyo?s possible congressional bid may be linked to Cha-cha and to protect her from prosecution after she steps down.

?That is her right as a Filipino. There is no legal impediment. But out of delicadeza, she should not orchestrate the mangling of the Constitution to perpetuate herself in power,? he said.

Opposition

Crusading lawyer Frank Chavez does not want three more years of Ms Arroyo, and said she should ?retire and enjoy her riches miserably.?

Party-list member Teodoro Casiño said the move is aimed at protecting herself and her family from prosecution after her term ends.

But ?a seat in Congress, even if she were elected Speaker, would not give GMA immunity from criminal suits,? said another party-list member, Satur Ocampo.