Palace: ‘Speaker Arroyo’ still pure speculation

It is still too early to discuss whether President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be fielded as the administration's bet for Speaker of the House of Representatives, should she win as congresswoman for Pampanga’s second district. This was what a Malacañang spokesperson said on Monday, amid claims of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD members that Mrs. Arroyo would be their bet for the top House post. "It is just speculation at this point. The bottom line is that the Speaker’s post is a result of an election to determine who will be the Speaker," deputy presidential spokesperson Charito Planas said in Filipino in an interview on dzXL radio. Planas added that it was too early to tell if the President would be also be part of the House majority or minority bloc. "If the opposition has the numbers, its bet will be the Speaker. If the administration has the numbers, its bet will be the Speaker," she said. On Monday, a report from the Philippine Star quoted Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano as saying that Lakas-Kampi would likely have the numbers to install Mrs. Arroyo as House Speaker. "There are more than 100 Lakas-Kampi congressmen who are seeking reelection in their districts. Additionally, there are several Cabinet members who are seeking House seats. An overwhelming majority of these candidates will win on May 10," said Albano, an administation ally. Adonis: Arroyo not a sure winner

But Albano’s statement did not sit well with President Arroyo’s opponent for the congressional seat, the Liberal Party’s Adonis Simpao. Simpao, who seemed to be up against a political giant, said Mrs. Arroyo would first have to guarantee her victory in Pampanga’s second district before she goes after the Speakership. "I hope PGMA [the President’s initials] and her allies realize that she is not a sure winner here in the 2nd District of Pampanga. We intend to give her a very good fight and we intend to win," the 41-year-old Simpao said in a statement. "I believe in the end, the Kapampangans will vote for the True Kapampangan and not someone who didn’t even grow up in the province," Simpao further said. Administration critics have long claimed that Mrs. Arroyo’s congressional bid was her ploy to perpetuate herself in power after her term ends on June 30, 2010. Her political opponents allege that her allies in Congress would push for a shift to parliamentary form of government, which would enable her – provided that she wins as congresswoman – to run for prime minister. - with Sophia Dedace/RSJ, GMANews.TV