MANILA, Phillipines--If and when, filing her certificate of candidacy (CoC) as representative of Pampanga?s second district will not be a problem for President Macapagal-Arroyo because local officials can do it for her.

That?s according to the incumbent, her elder son Juan Miguel ?Mikey? Arroyo, who declared Saturday his willingness to forgo seeking a third term to give way to her candidacy.

?You don?t have to file your [CoC]. Allow these mayors, barangay captains to go to the Comelec (Commission on Elections) and file it for you,? the young Arroyo told his mother in a speech at the Heroes? Hall in Malacañang.

There is loud talk that Ms Arroyo, whose term as President ends on June 30, will file her CoC on or before the Dec. 1 deadline.

On Friday, her election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said she would file her CoC on Dec. 1 if she decides to run, and that she was not required to personally file it.

But Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said Ms Arroyo should not seek the congressional post ?in the name of decency and for the sake of propriety.?

?I?d appeal to her not to run and to respect the spirit of the Constitution instead of exploiting the letter of the law, which indeed does not categorically prohibit running for lower positions,? David said.

The bishop is a native of Guagua, one of the six towns in Pampanga?s second district, and is a younger brother of University of the Philippines professor and Inquirer columnist Randy David.

Known for his progressive stance, the bishop said his views had nothing to do with his brother?s plan to challenge Ms Arroyo at the polls.

Mikey Arroyo led a contingent of over 200 mayors, barangay captains and other local officials of Pampanga in a call on his mother in Malacañang.

?My dear mother, in your decision-making, my sentiments must be taken as inconsequential. My political future must be brought to the back seat because as public servants, we have sworn to give our all to our country,? he said in a speech.

?Madame President, I believe that the best service I can give to my constituents, whom I?ve grown to love so much, is urging you not to deny them the privilege of being represented by your person,? he said.

The congressman noted the steady stream of farmers, fisherfolk, businessmen, investors and medium-scale entrepreneurs trooping to the Palace ?to express their desire that they be given the privilege of being represented by ... a stateswoman with the stature of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.?

?This, Madame President, my mother, will be the best gift of gratitude you?ll be giving them for all their support not only to you, to me, but our ancestors as well,? he said.

Family matter

The President did not speak at the end of the program. She had lunch with the local officials before retiring to her quarters, and merely smiled at reporters when asked whether she would heed the clamor.

Asked to comment on Mikey Arroyo?s remarks, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde curtly said: ?That?s a family matter.?

Candaba Mayor Gerry Pelayo said that as far as he knew, Ms Arroyo would run unopposed in the province?s second district?if she does run.

?Don?t let a single mosquito touch her,? Pelayo told his colleagues.

Addressing Ms Arroyo in his opening remarks, Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda, the president of the Pampanga Mayors? League, said: ?It?s too early for you to retire. You?re still young... Please continue serving in the second district whatever criticism comes your way. We will ensure that the critics will be shut out in the elections.?

Pelayo later said he believed that Ms Arroyo was ?thrilled? by the clamor for her candidacy. ?It?s a kind of a vote of confidence,? he said.

If Ms Arroyo does seek her son?s post, administration standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro Jr. ?won?t be upstaged,? Remonde told reporters. ?Besides, she will continue to serve as President until the end of her term.?

Pelayo said the mayors were backing Lilia Pineda in her fresh crack at the gubernatorial post, and that he had yet to talk with Mikey Arroyo about the latter?s political plans.

Second thoughts

Asked if Ms Arroyo heeded their clamor, Lubao Mayor Pineda said without elaborating: ?We will know until Nov. 30. She?s having second thoughts.?

The 1987 Constitution bans a president from running for reelection. The delegates of the 1986 constitutional commission set the term limit in reaction to the long reign of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

But according to Comelec Chair Jose Melo, neither the Constitution nor election laws bar a president from seeking a lower position.

?The only position not open [to reelection] is [the presidency],? Melo told the Inquirer.

Bishop David said the drafters of the Constitution were ?such decent people that they left some room for common sense and propriety.?

?To have to ask the Supreme Court to state it categorically means we?ve sunk that low in our sense of civility. How sad, indeed,? the bishop said, adding:

?The drafters of the Constitution had obvious reasons for prohibiting a sitting president from running for reelection. Of course, it has to do with the immense advantage she has over other candidates. How much more over any other candidate for a lower position??

David said propriety was ?already the issue in 2004,? because Ms Arroyo had earlier promised that she would not run for election.

?She was already a sitting president because of Edsa II, and we saw how she took full advantage of her position back then. She has since lost every sense of propriety. What institution can put it in check?? the bishop said.

Lubao

At the Palace event, the mayors took turns at the podium, citing the many projects and services that Ms Arroyo had worked to bring to the towns of Guagua, Sasmuan, Lubao, Sta. Rita, Floridablanca and Porac.

Ms Arroyo?s declared hometown is Lubao, but it was her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, who was a native of the town.

The First Couple have not maintained a home in Lubao. Mikey Arroyo lived there when he served as vice governor in 2001.

A house near the Lubao church, built in March and believed in the neighborhood as belonging to the President, is registered under Eva Development Corp., a company owned by the Arroyo family.

During Ms Arroyo?s 47 visits to Pampanga so far, most of which were in the second district, she inaugurated or inspected government projects like farm-to-market roads, school buildings and water systems.

It was her frequent visits and delivery of government projects to the second district that fueled speculation of her run for representative.

Discernment

San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, who Ms Arroyo recognizes as one of her advisers, said she should ?pray and discern seriously? before deciding whether to seek the congressional seat.

?She must weigh her options and choices well. Her responsibility is to promote the genuine welfare of the people,? he said.

Asked about his opinion on the legal aspect of the issue, Aniceto said: ?We are living in an imperfect democratic system that allows a sitting public official to run immediately for lower office.?

Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales, chair of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD in the third district and a close ally of Ms Arroyo, said she would ?definitely run as congresswoman because the people of Pampanga want her to.?

Gonzales said he saw nothing wrong with Ms Arroyo?s purported planned run.

?The law allows it, her kabalen (province mates) look forward [to it], and GMA certainly deserves the trust and confidence of her people. She has earned the right to represent and continue to serve them in a new position,? he said. With a report from Charlene Cayabyab, Inquirer Central Luzon