PRESIDENT MACAPAGAL-ARROYO’S own deputy spokesperson is running for public office under another party and doesn’t mind slugging it out with the ruling party’s candidate.

Undersecretary Anthony Golez has taken a leave from his post to seek a congressional seat under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in the lone district of Bacolod City in next year’s elections.

He said that it might seem odd for him to run under another party than the administration’s Lakas, but the twist was all part of the dynamics in local politics. He said he chose to run with NPC because his opponent was a long-time member of the ruling party.

“I think even before I was born, the other party was already with Lakas. I can’t do anything. The world will become smaller for us,’’ he said in his last press briefing, choosing not to identify his opponent.

The ruling party failed to forge a coalition with NPC for the May 2010 presidential elections and to persuade the latter’s vice presidential candidate Sen. Loren Legarda to run under the administration’s banner.

Golez, however, said he was confident that President Macapagal-Arroyo would support his candidacy, but did not expect her to go as far as attending his proclamation rally and raising his hand.
“The others might complain,’’ he said when asked whether Ms Arroyo would raise his hand at his proclamation rally.

“The President is like any mother who is very supportive to those close to her. And the President, in her exact words, said she’s going to support whatever plans or aspirations that I have,’’ he said.

Golez has been tapped to serve as the President’s deputy spokesperson along with Undersecretary Lorelei Fajardo and Prof. Gary Olivar. He has held the post for at least two years.

Golez also said that Lakas never attempted to persuade him to run with the party because it was aware that it already had “a strong candidate’’ in Bacolod City running for Congress.