VP or Speaker? Allies start charting Arroyo's future

Retirement from politics could be something remote for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Eight months before she vacates Malacañang, leaders of Mrs. Arroyo's political party have started planning for the political future of the President. Will she run as congresswoman of the second district of Pampanga and eventually become the Speaker or will she become the running mate of Gilberto Teodoro Jr? These possibilities were discussed by party leaders recently, according to Lakas-Kampi-CMD senior deputy secretary general Danilo Suarez. "We briefly discussed the possibility of her running as a member of the House...I can easily predict she would be the best Speaker if ever she gets elected as congresswoman and gets elected as Speaker," said Suarez, Quezon representative, during the weekly Serye forum in Quezon City on Thursday. Mrs. Arroyo's frequent visits to her home province of Pampanga - already 47 times this year - have heightened speculations that she might seek a congressional seat in next year's elections. But the President, who many believe would do everything to protect herself from prosecution - remains tight-lipped. [See: Arroyo in Pampanga for 47th time this year] Her critics are reading between the lines. They claim Mrs. Arroyo will be seeking a House post so she could again rule the nation after her allies in Congress succeed in pushing for the overhaul of the 1987 Constitution, changing the presidential form of government to parliamentary and finally catapulting her to power, this time, as prime minister. Suarez, the one who paid for one of the lavish dinners of Mrs Arroyo in her recent US trip, floats another option, which could help deodorize Teodoro's candidacy. "Ang pinakamaganda niyan if you can convince her to run as vice (The best position is if you can convince her to run as vice president)," he said. [See: Solon: I paid for Arroyo party's Washington dinner] "Let's put it this way,you have a vice president with the experience and caliber of (Arroyo). She'll be an asset, whoever will be the President," added Suarez. But leftist party-list lawmakers think Suarez's idea is impossible. The 1987 Constitution states that "the President shall not be eligible for any re-election," according to Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmanares, concurrent secretary general of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers. Other than its alleged unconstitutionality, Colmenares thinks Mrs. Arroyo, who is being accused of cheating in the 2004 presidential polls, should no longer be given another chance at political power because she might never give it up. "Pag vice president siya at nanalo yung dalawa at mag-resign o mamatay yung presidente babalik na naman si Arroyo, siya na naman yung ating presidente (If she runs as vice president and they win, then at the moment the elected president resigns or dies, she will again become the president)," he said in the same news forum. - GMANews.TV