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Priest likens Arroyo’s descent to Jesus Christ
Topic Started: Dec 18 2009, 06:48 AM (315 Views)
maryam
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Priest likens Arroyo’s descent to Jesus Christ
By Charlene Cayabyab, Tonette Orejas, Christian V. Esguerra, TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Central Luzon Desk
First Posted 02:57:00 12/02/2009
From: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091202-239646/Priest-likens-Arroyos-descent-to-Jesus-Christ


LUBAO, PAMPANGA—Allies compared her to Jesus Christ for “coming down to serve.” They said that unlike former presidents who plotted coups, she would fight in the open and defend herself against corruption charges after she leaves Malacañang.

Crowds estimated at several thousand cheered President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Tuesday when she returned to her hometown to file her certificate of candidacy (CoC) for representative of the second congressional district of Pampanga.

Ms Arroyo’s term as president ends in June next year and her decision to vie for a seat in Congress next May is unparalleled for a Philippine leader.

Seizing on this, Fr. Roland Moraleja advised Ms Arroyo to “be not afraid of this unprecedented move.”

‘Blasphemy’

“Do not believe you are diminishing the power of the [Office of the] President. Ating metung a taung migbaba ba yang sumuyo—I Kristo (There was a person who came down to serve us—Jesus Christ),” Moraleja said in a homily.

The special Mass, concelebrated by 22 priests, was beamed live to crowds outside through two huge monitors installed on the patio of St. Augustine Church here.

A “blasphemy” was how Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David called the use by Moraleja of Jesus Christ as an example to justify Ms Arroyo’s bid for a seat in the House of Representatives.

No comment

Unlike some Church leaders who disapproved of Ms Arroyo’s decision to run for Congress, the newly installed Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar, refused to comment.

Odchimar, who was reportedly elected with the support of Ms Arroyo’s bishop-allies, told reporters: “That is a political question. I prefer not to delve into that.”

‘Bring it on’

After the Mass, a top Malacañang official took a combative stance and challenged whoever would succeed Ms Arroyo to file charges against her, saying she had been ready for them long ago.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde described as “baloney” speculation that Ms Arroyo was seeking a seat in the House of Representatives to protect herself from lawsuits when she steps down in 2010.

“She has always been ready, but the problem is all these issues of corruption against her have been more of a trial by publicity than a real trial in court,” he told reporters before Ms Arroyo formalized her candidacy.

“So bring it on, especially the new administration, so we will see the truth,” Remonde added, echoing Ms Arroyo’s statement on Monday that Congress only offered lawmakers immunity from libel for utterances made within its walls.

Scandals involving alleged cheating during the 2004 election and corruption have hounded Ms Arroyo during her presidency.

Opposition lawmakers have also said that Ms Arroyo is aiming for the post of speaker in the next Congress so she could be in line for prime minister if the Constitution is amended and the country shifts to a parliamentary system.

Virtually unopposed

Ms Arroyo basked in the glow of support from her cabalen (province mates) who turned up at St. Augustine Church.

Ms Arroyo is running virtually unopposed with only a certain Feliciano Serrano, an electrical engineer and an independent, challenging her for the post.

Randy David, a social scientist from the University of the Philippines, has backed out.

Remonde argued that Ms Arroyo would do better than other former presidents by making herself visible as a member of Congress.

“She will fight in the open,” he said.

“What have other presidents who have stepped down been doing?” Remonde said in Filipino.

“They have always been behind all coup and destabilization attempts,” he added. “So what did they do better?”

Remonde did not mention any names.

Won’t hurt Gibo

Remonde said Ms Arroyo’s congressional candidacy would not necessarily steal the spotlight from former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., the administration’s standard-bearer, who has yet to improve his 2-percent rating in recent surveys.

“Definitely not,” he said.

Cheering supporters turned up for the Mass and a rally for her in Lubao town, and lined the streets to see her on her way to file her candidacy papers.

With husband Jose Miguel Arroyo, son Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo and a gaggle of local officials, Ms Arroyo, clad in a jade green blazer and pantsuit, personally filed her CoC at the office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in San Fernando City.

After logging in and signing the logbook of candidates at 10:23 a.m., she beamed to reporters, and the mob of supporters erupted into applause.

Humility, honor

In his homily, Moraleja advised Ms Arroyo not to be disheartened by the barrage of criticisms coming her way, saying her province mates hankered for her kind of service.

“If some people put you down because of what they think of you, we Kapampangans will lift you up. If some people will put you down because of what they think you’ll do from President to congresswoman, we the Kapampangan people will raise you up,” he said, drawing applause inside the packed church.

Some 5,000 people from 159 villages in the second district of Pampanga gathered for the Mass and the rally.

Reflecting what may be the local Lakas-Kampi-CMD lineup for the 2010 elections, Ms Arroyo shared the stage with former Board Member Lilia Pineda, who is running for governor; Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao; Pampanga mayors led by Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda; and Representatives Anna York Bondoc, Aurelio Gonzales and Carmelo Lazatin.

People filled the patio, standing shoulder to shoulder, with some holding placards or green and white balloons.

She told them public service was a “holy job” that was in her DNA (genetic makeup) since she was a child, claiming she inherited that from her father.

Unfair fight

Before signing her CoC, Ms Arroyo asked Comelec clerks in San Fernando to double check if the district she was running for was the second.

She jokingly told Representative Gonzales, who is seeking reelection in the third district: “They might put third district in my CoC.”

Ms Arroyo’s opponent, Serrano, said the fight was unfair.

“Being the President, she has television coverage and is free to express what she can do even outside the campaign period. She has lots more—helicopter, buddies, complete accessories so to speak,” Serrano said, adding that, in comparison, he had nothing.
Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and his running mate, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, said they were talking to party mates, led by Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio, on fielding a strong candidate against Ms Arroyo.

New CBCP head

Aquino said there were two candidates being considered against Ms Arroyo but he withheld their identities.

As off press time, however, only Serrano was listed as running against Ms Arroyo.

Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. said Ms Arroyo should retire from public office. But he stressed it would be the people of Pampanga who would decide whether she should represent them in Congress.

Villar said probably Ms Arroyo wanted “to get a big bloc in the House so that the next president will think twice about going after her.” With reports from Christine O. Avendaño and Dona Pazzibugan
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