MANILA - Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo on Saturday volunteered to give up his seat in the House of Representatives for his mother, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and personally asked her to run in 2010.

"Madame President, I believe that the best service I can give to my constituents is urging you not to deny them the privilege of being represented by your person," the young Arroyo told his mother during a "serenade" at Malacañang.

He said he was very much willing to abandon his plan to seek re-election in 2010 so he can give way to his mother, who is being urged by local leaders of Pampanga's 2nd district to run for congresswoman.

“My political future must be brought to the back seat,” he told reporters at Malacañang.

The young Arroyo led barangay leaders and mayors from Pampanga's 2nd District in convincing his mother to run. The group's visit to Malacañang followed a "lightning rally" at the Palace grounds on Friday.

The mayors, led by Pampanga Mayors League President Dennis Pineda, formally presented to Mrs. Arroyo a resolution urging her to run for congresswoman.
 
Mrs. Arroyo, however, remained mum about her political plans and merely smiled and thanked every mayor.

Candaba town Mayor Jerry Pelayo vowed to campaign for Mrs. Arroyo, even if his town does not belong to the second district.

Pelayo said the president's possible opponents for the congressional do not stand a chance.

"Matalino ang mga botante. Alam nila kung sino ang may tunay na serbisyo para sa tao, hindi yung dahil galit ka lang," Pelayo told reporters.

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal had told reporters early Friday that Mrs. Arroyo would decide on Friday whether she would run for Congress in 2010.

However, he later told reporters that the President asked for more time to think about it.

Macalintal had said Mrs. Arroyo may decide to run for a local post in 2010 or not run at all. He said Mrs. Arroyo does not need to resign if she decides to run.

He added that Mrs. Arroyo is not prohibited by law to run for any elective post other than for president. He said she may run for vice-president, governor of Pampanga, or representative of the province's 2nd district, the seat currently held by her son.

Macalintal said that if she decides to run, Mrs. Arroyo may file her certificate of candidacy (COC) on December 1, the last day of filing of COCs.

He said Mrs. Arroyo need not go to the Comelec office in Pampanga to file her COC. She can authorize her representative to file it on her behalf. – Report from Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News