After 'legacy' ads come 'thank you' ads for Arroyo

From "Ganito Kami Noon" to "Maraming Salamat." Barely had the row over her "legacy" ads died down when a new series of ads for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo came out. A full-page ad, supposedly from Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, "thanked" Mrs. Arroyo for the benefits it got under her nine-and-a-half years in power. The ad came as Malacañang insisted there was no need for Mrs. Arroyo to catch up on her campaign for a congressional seat in Pampanga, as she watches over her hospitalized husband First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo. "Maraming salamat Mahal na Pangulo... sa pagtatapos ng inyong panunungkulan bilang pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas, nararapat lamang na kami ay magpasalamat sa lahat ng mga proyekto at magagandang bagay na pinagkaloob ninyo sa lungsod ng Puerto Princesa," read one of the ads, which came out in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. (Thank you very much beloved president. After your stint as president it is only fitting that we thank you for the projects and benefits you gave the city of Puerto Princesa.) "Ito po ay di namin makakalimutan at patuloy kaming mananalangin sa tagumpay ng inyong mga adhikain sa hinaharap (We will not forget you and we will support your success in your endeavors)," it added. Named in the ad were Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn, Vice Mayor Lucilo Bayron, and the "citizens of Puerto Princesa." The ad cited Mrs. Arroyo as the first president to visit the city's underground river, and for supporting the city's initiative to be the country's cleanest and greenest city. It also featured photos of Mrs. Arroyo taking part in major events in the city. Mrs. Arroyo received flak for a series of "legacy" newspaper ads that her critics said give her an undue advantage in the congressional race. Mrs. Arroyo is running for congresswoman in Pampanga's second district. Her critics claim she plans to run for prime minister should her allies in Congress push for a shift to a parliamentary form of government. While Malacañang insisted the legacy ads should not be considered part of campaigning, it stopped putting out the ads last March 26, the start of the campaign period for local posts. — RSJ, GMANews.TV