MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is pouring resources to her allies’ congressional campaigns to secure their support in the next Congress, according to political science Prof. Clarita Carlos of the University of the Philippines.

Carlos, who describes the President as a “master strategist,” says Mrs. Arroyo is doing this because she knows that all initiatives in the next administration, including any move to amend the Constitution, originate in Congress.

It makes sense to protect her allies in Congress because it would ensure that she has enough warm bodies to form a substantial voting bloc, the professor explains.

Many political observers also believe that if the President wins a congressional seat and has enough allies in the House, she can grab the post of House Speaker.

Raul Lambino, a candidate for senator of the Lakas-Kampi CMD party, confirms that Mrs. Arroyo has used congressional pork barrel funds to ensure support for her administration.

This support was shown in the past when Mrs. Arroyo’s allies in the House repeatedly threw out any attempt to impeach her.

Lambino adds that he doesn’t believe that administration candidates running for other posts were excluded from the financial largesse, even if some of them are experiencing problems in funding their respective campaigns.

Rep. Eldpidio Barzaga of Cavite, who is running for reelection, denies that those who are running for House seats are getting more support from the party leadership.

“The party supports everyone,” says Barzaga, who remains loyal to administration presidential candidate Gilberto Teodoro.

Barzaga, who is optimistic of Teodoro’s chances in winning the presidential election, believes that 60 percent of all votes cast for the presidency would go to Teodoro because of the command votes from local officials who are members of the administration party.

The congressman adds that even in areas where there are no administration candidates for local offices, the party can still count on at least 10 percent of the votes cast in such areas.