Arroyo vows better service in 2nd term in Congress

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Elected for a second term, Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday promised to deliver more services to her constituents in the province’s second district despite her weak health and detention on plunder charges.

“You have always served as my inspiration to do more in my work as your representative. I assure you that I shall prioritize legislative measures for your progress and welfare,” the former President said in a statement in Kapampangan. Copies of her statement were distributed after the provincial board of canvassers proclaimed her winner.

It was her first statement to residents in the second district since her visit on July 27, 2012, or two days after a judge allowed her to post bail for an electoral sabotage case.

She was again detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center  (VMMC) in Quezon City in October last year for alleged misuse of P325 million in intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

She has not left VMMC to file her certificate of candidacy, not even to campaign, cast her vote or attend her proclamation.

Paul Maglalang, her counsel, stood in for her at the proclamation ceremony on Thursday at Benigno Aquino Hall here.

Certificates of canvass received by the provincial board of canvassers from the towns of Guagua, Lubao, Sasmuan, Sta. Rita, Porac and Floridablanca showed Arroyo getting 168,718 votes. Her rival Vivian Dabu of the Liberal Party  polled 18,547 votes, Charlie Chua, 2,235 votes, and Lalah Leoncio, 1,462 votes.

Making no references to her health or her legal predicaments, Arroyo said the faith, trust and courage of her second-district constituents helped her cope with each day.

She said her being proclaimed a winner also honored her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal.

Local officials said she won because of the many projects she funneled to the district when she was President, the sympathy she generated due to her troubles, and the support of Governor Lilia Pineda.

Allocations to her priority development assistance fund amounted to P15 million in 2010, P30.8 million in 2011, P109.2 million in 2012 and P33.6 million in 2013, online data from the Department of Budget and Management showed.

Also proclaimed on Thursday night were Vice Governor-elect Dennis Pineda, Representatives-elect Oscar Rodriguez (third district) and Joseller Guiao (first district) and the winning provincial board members. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon