MANILA, Philippines — An ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has broached an idea that would ensure she is out of Malacañang by June next year but keep her close enough to the Palace to make her critics still nervous.

Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez Thursday suggested that Ms Arroyo run for vice president in May 2010, so that she could continue to push for the fiscal reforms and crucial legislation that have eluded her during her current term.

“It would be best if you could convince her to run for vice president,” Suarez said at the Serye forum. “You have a vice president with the experience and caliber of GMA, you will be an asset to whoever will be the president.”

Suarez, who noted a public perception that he had Ms Arroyo’s ear, was asked if he had raised the matter within the administration’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.

“There was no serious discussion about her running for that (vice presidency),” he said.

‘Dangerous idea’

The administration party is fielding Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro as its candidate for president but has yet to find a running mate for him.

It has been eyeing actor-politicians, such as former Optical Media Board Chair Edu Manzano and Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., as Teodoro’s possible partner.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares, who was at the same Quezon City forum, said Suarez’s suggestion was a “dangerous proposition.”

“If the president resigns or dies, GMA would return because it’s not constitutionally disallowed for her to succeed [the president],” Colmenares said.

He also noted that Ms Arroyo, who occupied the country’s No. 2 post before she assumed the presidency in 2001 following the ousting of Joseph Estrada from Malacañang, is not barred from seeking a second term as vice president.

Arroyo mum

Suarez said that several months ago, he suggested to Ms Arroyo that she run for a seat in the House of Representatives so that she would have a chance to complete her reform agenda, including new revenue laws that impose taxes on certain items or services.

He said all that Congress had passed during her term were laws cutting taxes.

“We briefly discussed the possibility of her running for the House,” Suarez said.

But he said Ms Arroyo made no comment to his proposal. “She just listened. She did not make any reply,” he said.

Next Speaker

Ms Arroyo is rumored to be running for a congressional seat in Pampanga and has made frequent trips to her home province this year.

Suarez said that if Ms Arroyo ran and won as a Pampanga representative, she could be the next Speaker and would make a good one.

“I can easily predict she will be the best Speaker if she would be elected congressman,” he said.

He said that as Speaker, Ms Arroyo could ensure the passage of measures that would improve the country’s finances. The present House has failed to do this, succeeding only in passing negative measures, or those that cut taxes, he said.

“This may be the first time that we have a Congress that did not pass positive tax measures. It’s all negative, those that reduce taxes,” he said.