Mikey undaunted by uncle’s political plans

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Vice Gov. Mikey Arroyo lamented reports that his uncle Arthur Macapagal would run against him for congressman in next year’s elections, but stressed that he respects his uncle’s desire to also serve the people in Pampanga’s second district.

"But why only now that local officials in my district have already manifested their support for my candidacy?" asked Mikey, who was interviewed by The STAR from Sydney, Australia where he is meeting with Filipino communities interested in investing in Pampanga.

Mikey said his decision to run for Congress was inspired by the resolutions passed by the municipal councils of the six towns comprising the second district expressing support for his political plans, as well as the endorsement of Sangguniang Kabataan groups and the Liga ng mga Barangay in the district.

The second district is composed of the towns of Lubao where Mikey and his mother, President Arroyo, are registered voters; Guagua, Sasmuan, Floridablanca, Sta. Rita and Porac.

In a forum of the Society of Pampanga Columnists last Friday, Macapagal, 60, a half-brother of the President, reportedly confirmed his plan to run for congressman in the second district, saying his candidacy would not be based on Mikey’s political aspirations but on "the people’s response."

"I won’t back out and renege on the expectations of people who have already reposed their trust in me," Mikey said.

He said his mother fully backs his political plans.

"Even Gov. (Lito) Lapid and Rep. (Zenaida) Ducut have endorsed my candidacy," he added.

Ducut is on her last term as second district congresswoman and will reportedly run for either vice governor or mayor of Guagua.

"I validated the claims of barangay officials and (found out) that the people are receptive (to my congressional candidacy)," Mikey said.

Asked whether the President might persuade him to back out after her half-brother had disclosed his political plans, Mikey said, "I don’t think so."

Macapagal was quoted as saying that his late father, former President Diosdado Macapagal, had wanted him to run for congressman in Pampanga’s second district.

The former president was born in Lubao town and is referred to in history books as "the poor boy from Lubao."

Macapagal, however, lamented that his father died without him fulfilling his wish. He and Cielo Macapagal-Salgado were the late president’s children by his first wife.

When the late president was widowed, he married former First Lady Eva Macapagal with whom he had two more children — President Arroyo and Diosdado Jr.

Mikey, however, said even he was urged by his late grandfather to go into public service before the latter died in 1997.

"But I suppose my grandfather never expected things would turn out this way," he said.

"In spite of that, it’s a free country and I respect my uncle’s decision to also serve the people," he added.

From Sydney, Mikey is slated to visit Filipino communities in Melbourne also to lure investments for Pampanga.

"I always bring home something for my cabalens whenever I go abroad," he said.