Palace spokesman running for Congress under NPC

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo’s spokesman is running for Congress to represent Bacolod City in the May 2010 elections but not under the administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez, who has been working at Malacañang for over two years, said he would run for Congress under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

Golez, a neophyte in politics, expressed confidence that it would not be a problem with his boss.

Golez said he is hoping Mrs. Arroyo would even support him in his bid to run for Congress.

“The President is just like any other mother who is very supportive of those close to her, and the President, in her exact words, said she’s going to support whatever plans or aspirations that I have,” Golez said when asked what the President told him when informed of his political plans.

When asked whether Mrs. Arroyo would raise his hand to endorse him, he said: “Other candidates might complain and I don’t think the President does those things. I’m new in this arena.”

Golez said he did not feel awkward in his position of speaking for the President but running under another party.

“I know where my loyalty starts and ends,” he remarked.

Golez said he also consulted with his former colleagues in the Cabinet and former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on his plans to run under the NPC.

He noted Teodoro was once a stalwart of the NPC before he went over to Lakas and became the administration standard bearer.

“I’ll make it easier for Tony (Golez’s nickname). Bear in mind that NPC has no presidential candidate so it’s not difficult for Tony,” Press Secretary Cerge Remonde told the same news conference.

Remonde said there was no invitation from Lakas-Kampi-CMD for Golez to join the party, something he did not consider either.

It was clear from the start that the administration was grooming a candidate to pit against him in Bacolod, Remonde said.

Remonde added the people in Bacolod are already aware of Golez’s plans to run for Congress.

Golez would join several other Cabinet members who are expected to resign and file their certificates of candidacy in the coming week for next year’s elections.