MANILA, Philippines?There?s no backing out in the party-list race as far as Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel ?Mikey? Arroyo is concerned.

Arroyo, the President?s eldest son, simply dismissed anew criticisms thrown at him for being the first nominee of Ang Galing Pinoy, a party-list group claiming to represent security guards.

?If you notice, those criticizing all come from the opposition, nothing is new,? he said in a text message.

Asked if he plans to back out, he said, ?That is for the party-list hierarchy to decide.?

Arroyo still has one term left in the House of Representatives but gave way to his mother, who is seeking a congressional seat in Pampanga?s second district.

Various groups and the political opposition have questioned Arroyo?s nomination, wondering how he can represent the marginalized security guards in the country.

And unlike lowly security guards, Arroyo?s net worth has ballooned by more than 1,600 percent in seven years, from P5.7 million in 2001 to P74.4 million in 2004, and then to P99.2 million in 2008, according to Philippine Daily Inquirer report.

Some groups have remarked that the lower chamber could be the ?House of Arroyos? in the 15th Congress. Aside from the Arroyo and the President, Representative Diosdado Arroyo, the President?s other son, and Representative Ignacio Arroyo, her brother-in-law, are both seeking reelection in Camarines Sur and Negros Occidental, respectively.

It was not yet certain if Ma. Lourdes Arroyo, the President?s sister-in-law, will be a nominee anew of the party-list group Ang Kasangga, which purportedly represents micro-entrepreneurs.