All the children of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may get together in Congress next year.
House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, one of Arroyo’s staunchest allies, raised this possibility should the incumbent Pampanga legislator’s poor medical condition persists.
"The former president is filing her (CoC) certificate of candidacy next week… She is seeking re-election,” Suarez confirmed.
“But if her health does not improve, (Mrs. Arroyo’s daughter) Luli will probably run (in her district),” the Quezon legislator added. Luli, Arroyo's only daughter, is known to be least political in the family. Her brothers, Dato and Mikey are Representatives of Camarines Sur and Ang Galing partylist, respectively.
As a co-chair in Mrs. Arroyo’s Lakas CMD (Christian-Muslim Democrats) Suarez clarified the decision of choose the candidate representing the Pampanga’s second district will not be up to the party.
From October 1 to 5, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will start accepting certificates of candidacies of local and national candidates for the mid-term elections in May next year.
Suarez floated the scenario after disclosing that the former president has been losing weight.
"She is now 88 pounds, and her medical condition is in limbo," Suarez said, urging the Aquino administration to allow Mrs. Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad.
In a Twitter account managed by her own staff, Mrs. Arroyo disclosed she went back to wearing soft collar neck brace again after experiencing constant numbness in her neck.
She revealed wearing the neck brace for longer period following her doctor’s advice.
Mrs. Arroyo has been enjoying temporary freedom after posting a P1-million bail for the electoral sabotage case involving her in the alleged cheating in Maguindanao in May 2007 polls.
The former leader was placed under hospital arrest at the Veteran’s Medical Memorial Center (VMMC) in Quezon City after being diagnosed of suffering from hypoparathyroidism.
In a separate development, Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) will be fielding a TV broadcaster for another seat in Congress next year.
UNA spokesperson JV Bautista said ABS CBN reporter Sol Aragones will be sworn in on Thursday as their new member. She will run for the congressional race for the third district of Laguna.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Tuesday announced a $1.8-billion military upgrade to help defend his country's maritime territory against "bullies", amid an ever-worsening dispute with China.
