LUBAO, PAMPANGA—Macapagal versus Arroyo?

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 62, will likely face her older half-sister, former Vice Gov. Cielo Macapagal-Salgado, if they both heed a clamor to contest a congressional seat in Pampanga in the May elections.

Salgado confirmed Sunday that Gov. Eddie Panlilio had told her that civil society leaders were asking her to lead the Liberal Party (LP) slate in the second district.

“Yes, Among Ed communicated to me such proposal more than a week ago,” she said.

Panlilio said that he and his supporters in the good governance crusade see Salgado as a “true Macapagal,” referring to the good attributes of her late father, President Diosdado Macapagal.

The looming showdown is being dubbed as “Macapagal versus Arroyo,” he said. Other Kapampangans, he added, were also courting University of the Philippines sociology professor, Randy David, to give Ms Arroyo a good fight.

Legacy of good governance

The 69-year-old Salgado said she was not opposed to leading the LP district slate since she is a Liberal like her father. But she said this would have to be “thought out seriously.”

“I need to consider my health, my family, the work I do in the church, the sense of what my father’s relatives and friends think about this. And of course, there’s dad’s legacy,” she told the Inquirer.

Salgado, a cancer survivor, said that it might be Arturo, her younger brother, who should serve the district or the province.

“My dad said it should be Art who should be in politics to continue his good name. But Art agreed to give way to Mikey,” she said, referring to Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, the President’s eldest son who is serving a second term in Congress.

The clamor for Ms Arroyo to run in Congress came from one of her former police advisers, retired Chief Supt. Orlando Macaspac.

As the President was handing out relief goods in Lubao in September, Macaspac distributed leaflets urging Ms Arroyo to seek a seat in Congress. There has been no public reaction from her on Macaspac’s initiative or the other similar floaters.

44 visits so far

Ms Arroyo has visited her home district 44 times since February. Six mayors there have expressed support for her possible congressional run. But the President continues to be mum about her political plans after her term ends next June.

There are no legal impediments for Ms Arroyo to serve in Congress, said her lawyer, Romulo Macalintal, who urged the media to wait for the Dec. 1 deadline of the filing of candidacies.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago told dzBB Sunday that she was convinced Ms Arroyo would run for Congress.

“What possible reason will you have for going so many times to a certain locality where you are already supported by the greater majority of the people as a native daughter,” Santiago said.

“I am afraid all roads lead to Lubao, Pampanga, as far as President Arroyo is concerned,” she added.

It could be demeaning

Asked why Ms Arroyo is doing this, Santiago said that the President probably did not want to retire from public service.

The senator dismissed claims that Ms Arroyo was running for Congress so she could evade potential lawsuits after escaping several impeachment attempts for corruption. She said that members of Congress did not have immunity from suits.

“But it’s possible that by her stature as congresswoman or speaker, she might influence majority of the House against any suit that might rise against her,” Santiago said.

But Sen. Joker Arroyo said in the same program that it would be “demeaning” for the President to seek a congressional seat. With a report from Christine O. Avendaño