Puno: Arroyo's Pampanga visits mean she'll be leaving
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 06/25/2009 1:05 PM
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MANILA - Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno interprets President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's frequent visits to her hometown in Pampanga province as signs that she'll be leaving the presidency in 2010.
Puno said Mrs. Arroyo could be taking advantage of her last days in power to pour more services to her home province, which is an indication that she is preparing to leave her post, contrary to her critics' speculations.
"I think that is a sign of leaving, not arriving," he told radio dzMM on Thursday, when asked about reports that Mrs. Arroyo is planning to take over her son's congressional seat in the second district of Pampanga as a step to becoming prime minister after charter change takes place.
The secretary said he would not give Mrs. Arroyo unsolicited advice, saying the reports about Arroyo running in 2010 are just plain and simple "tsismis."
He said the Cabinet, with or without the President's presence, has not seriously talked about the rumor. He said that as one of Mrs. Arroyo's closest aides, she would naturally tell him about her plans in 2010.
"Tsismis lang iyan eh. Never kong narinig na pinag-usapan iyan. Never binanggit sa akin iyan ni Pangulong Arroyo at never kong narinig iyan sa kanyang kapamilya. Ewan ko kung bakit lumaki iyan," Puno said. "I want to hear it from the President herself."
2010 polls are on
Puno, meanwhile, reiterated statements of administration allies about the "no elections" scenario being anticipated by the political opposition after the House approved House Resolution 1109 calling for a constituent assembly to tackle amendments to the 1987 Constitution.
"Definitely [there will be elections in 2010]. Regular presidential election," he said.
Puno said that the national executive committee of the newly merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD party met on Wednesday to finalize the criteria, procedures and guidelines for the selection of national candidates for the 2010 elections.
He said the meeting, which was attended by supporters of the controversial House resolution, is a clear indication that the administration is busy preparing for the elections, and not for Charter change (Cha-cha)
He said that majority of the administration's members, including him, are for Cha-cha. He, however, clarified that Cha-cha should not happen before the elections.
"Even if I'm in favor of Cha-cha, but I'm against Cha-cha before the elections," Puno said.
Puno has declared that he will join the selection process of the administration candidates for the 2010 elections. He said he intends to run for vice-president.
The secretary, meanwhile, denied that the Lakas-Kampi-CMD has set a deadline for presidential aspirants, particularly Vice President Noli de Castro and Defense chief Gilbert Teodoro, to register under the merged parties.
There were reports that the two "presidentiables" are being asked by administration party members to join by July or they will not be included in the party's selection process for 2010.
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