Kapampangan allies see GMA in parliament

SASMUAN, Pampanga, Philippines – Administration congressmen are toying with the idea of President Arroyo stepping down 60 days before the 2010 elections to run for a congressional seat in the second district of Pampanga in anticipation of a shift to a parliamentary form of government where she could emerge as prime minister.

“I think she will,” Pampanga 1st district Rep. Carmelo Lazatin told The STAR, referring to the likelihood of Mrs. Arroyo running for Congress in the hope of being absorbed as assemblywoman and elected later as prime minister in a new parliament. A new form of government is possible only after a Charter change.

“In such a case, Vice President Noli de Castro will be acting president until election time,” Lazatin said.

The same scenario “was also in my mind,” according to 3rd district Rep. Aurelio Gonzalez who accompanied Mrs. Arroyo in her sorties in Lubao, Arayat, and Bacolor last Monday.

“It’s up to the public to analyze her movements,” Gonzalez said, apparently referring to the President’s frequent visits to her home province, particularly to the second district where she is a registered voter. Her son Rep. Mikey Arroyo, who currently represents the 2nd district, is believed to be eyeing the province’s gubernatorial post.

“Members of Congress will become assemblymen and seven senators will be absorbed,” Lazatin said.

He said the senators should not worry because a new Charter, if approved in a plebiscite, would create 100 more seats in the assembly, which the senators could fill up.

“Some senators are already supportive of the idea,” he said.

“The presidential election will push through as scheduled or people will get angry. But it will be timed for the holding of a plebiscite that will change the Charter,” he said.

Earlier, Malacañang expressed support for the proposal of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to increase the number of congressmen from 250 to 350 reportedly to match the growing population of the country.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said he agreed with Enrile’s reasoning that the country needs more legislators “if we want full representation.”

The President has visited the province eight times since January, fuelling speculation that she’s eyeing a local position.

She was in the island barangay of Malusac yesterday afternoon to visit a farm-to-market road. Her visit included a medical and dental mission.

Last week during the induction of officers of the Pampanga Press Club, De Castro denied having prior information about the President’s plan to run for Congress in 2010. But he stressed “there is nothing wrong” aspiring for another elective post.

Lazatin, meanwhile, said the public should be made aware of the benefits of a parliamentary form of government.

“The prime minister can be removed if the members of parliament are dissatisfied with his or her performance,” he said, adding that “people would be supportive of this change once they understand everything.”