Arroyo resignation as Lakas head not due to 'kiss of death' tag - Palace

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s reported plan to resign as head of the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD is more of “passing the torch" than an admission of her political kiss of death, Malacañang insisted Saturday.

Speaking on government-run dzRB radio, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said such a “passing of the torch" is due to reasons of practicality and tradition. Lakas-Kampi-CMD has selected Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro as its standard bearer last September.

“Among others, she has to pass the torch of leadership to Sec. Teodoro. Second, tradition na yata yan ng Lakas (it is the tradition at Lakas that), whoever will be standard bearer also becomes head of the party," he said.

He downplayed claims that Mrs. Arroyo was quitting as head of the administration party because she felt she was not contributing to Teodoro’s candidacy.

Mrs. Arroyo’s critics had repeatedly claimed her endorsements for administration candidates are equivalent to a political kiss of death.

They cited the poor showing of Mrs. Arroyo’s senatorial bets in the 2004 and 2007 elections.

“It’s really passing the torch of leadership to the person who has been chosen by the party as the next president," Remonde insisted.

Remonde also downplayed speculations that Mrs. Arroyo is quitting as party president so she can run for a local post in 2010.

Mrs. Arroyo’s critics accused her of planning to run for Pampanga congresswoman while her allies moved to amend the Constitution to shift to a parliamentary form of government.

The allegations stemmed from Mrs. Arroyo’s frequent visits to Pampanga. She has made at least 47 visits there since January this year.

Under a parliamentary form of government, Mrs. Arroyo as congresswoman can run for Prime Minister.

“Not necessarily, not necessarily. Because the president would really like to turn over the party as far as I know, although I am not a party spokesman," Remonde said when asked about the possibility Mrs. Arroyo will quit so she can run for a local post.

He also denied claims Mrs. Arroyo is sore at media for not “helping" the candidacy of Teodoro, saying she is a “professional public servant" who knows her office is “under constant media scrutiny."

“Walang personalan yan (It is nothing personal)," he said.

Meanwhile, Remonde brushed aside claims by Senate minority floor leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. that a Teodoro-Arroyo tandem is a “formula for disaster." - GMANews.TV