This, amid reports that his uncle Arturo Macapagal has abandoned plans to run against him and instead be the vice gubernatorial running mate of Rep. Juan Pablo Bondoc, the National People’s Coalition (NPC) gubernatorial candidate.
Mikey could not be immediately contacted, but a reliable source from his camp confirmed that he would file his COC today.
"What we have confirmed is that Rimpy (Bondoc) has already invited Art Macapagal to be his running mate, although we are not sure whether Macapagal has accepted the offer," the source said. Macapagal is a half-brother of President Arroyo.
Meanwhile, Fidel Arcenas, Gov. Lito Lapid’s chief political adviser, said the governor has been preparing his legislative agenda after the President and other leaders of the Lakas-CMD (Christian-Muslim Democrats) chose him to be one of the administration party’s senatorial bets.
"He has seen the worst of calamities wrought by Mt. Pinatubo in Central Luzon and he wants a legislation that would make disaster preparedness an integral part of the programs of local government units, and not just a concern when calamity strikes," Arcenas said.
He said Lapid, the Lakas-CMD’s provincial chairman, has been given the full authority to name the party’s official candidates from vice governor to municipal councilors.
The governor’s son, provincial board member Mark Lapid, is the gubernatorial standard bearer of the ruling party.
"But we are having some difficulties in choosing the mayoral bets in Arayat, Bacolor, Lubao and Guagua," Arcenas said, citing an agreement earlier forged by provincial leaders of the Lakas-CMD and the NPC.
In Arayat, where Mayor Benigno Espino’s son Chito is running for mayor under the NPC, Eric Domingo, son of former Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo and official congressional bet of Lakas-CMD in Pampanga’s third district, wants former mayor Nelson de la Cruz to be the administration party’s mayoral candidate.
"So I suppose we will declare Arayat a free zone," Arcenas said.
In Bacolor, incumbent Mayor Buddy Dungca belongs to the local party Buklod Capampangan which is allied with the NPC, while in Lubao, independent Mayor Dennis Pineda, who is supporting Lapid’s senatorial bid, will likely back the gubernatorial bid of second district Rep. Zenaida Ducut (NPC) against Mark Lapid.
In Guagua, prospective Lakas-CMD mayoral bet Jerome Tulio is reportedly ailing. Party leaders are finding it hard to look for another bet who could defeat independent Mayor Paterno Magcalas.
In the last two days, Lapid was reported to have issued certificates of nomination to local candidates whom he has designated as official bets of the Lakas-CMD in Pampanga.