Arroyo keeping House speakership plans ‘secret’

Her brother-in-law may have confirmed her plans to gun for the House of Representatives speakership, but outgoing President and incoming Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo continues to keep her post-presidential political plans undisclosed. In a radio interview Friday, presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo said Mrs. Arroyo has so far not discussed her political plans with members of her official family. “Wala pang pinapahayag sa amin ang pangulo (na) ibig niya maging Speaker (The president has not told us anything about her plans to gun for the [House] speakership)," Saludo said in an interview on dzXL radio. He said planning to secure the speakership will involve much planning, including getting enough numbers in the House of Representatives. On Tuesday night, Mrs. Arroyo’s brother-in-law, reelected Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr., said Mrs. Arroyo is planning to become House Speaker. Mrs. Arroyo’s critics have accused her of planning to run for Congress and have her allies move for a shift to a parliamentary form of government – under which she can run for prime minister. “Yan wala pang pinapahayag sa amin ang kanyang hangarin. Tandaan natin ang pagiging kandidato sa speaker yan ay desisyon ng partido (She has not disclosed anything to us regarding her political plans. We must remember that a bid for speakership is the decision of the party)," Saludo said of Mrs. Arroyo’s supposed speakership plans. On Thursday, the Liberal Party of President-apparent Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III said it has started moves to field a bet for House Speaker. Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya said in Tarlac Thursday that while the LP will most likely field Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr., they are working on ensuring they have the numbers to back his bid. “You have to do your numbers now when the winners are getting clearer," Abaya said, adding the LP is confident the numbers will be there. But when asked about the possibility of the LP forming alliances with other parties amid the prospect of Mrs. Arroyo gunning for the Speakership, Abaya said, “Probably." — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV