“Reelection bid manifests CGMA’s ‘power-hungry’ mentality”

PRESS RELEASE
By Migrante Middle East   
28 July 2012

Thus, said today by an activist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) group in reaction to the reports that former president and now Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (CGMA) is gunning for a second term in the House of Representative in May 2013 midterm elections.

“One would really wonder, if not doubt, that despite illness and several criminal cases filed against her, CGMA has the nerve to run for reelection as representative of Pampanga’s 2nd district. This manifest ‘power-crazy’ or ‘power-hungry’ mentality of her,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) regional coordinator.

Monterona is quick to add “Well, she is the same person who promised not to seek for reelection but she ran anyway for a second presidential term, an exemption on president’s term limit as prescribed by the Constitution, right after completing the term she inherited from ousted president Joseph Estrada.”

Monterona, however, admitted that CGMA is still allowed by the Constitution to run for reelection as representative of Pampanga. “Everyone knows that she ran and will run again not for genuine public service but primarily for political survival and use her position as shield versus the filed cases against her.”

Aside from CGMA, three other Arroyos are current members of the House of Representatives namely Diosdado ‘Dato’ Arroyo of 1st district Camarines Sur, Ma. Lourder Arroyo of Ang Kasanga Partylist, and Ang Galing Partylist representative Juan Miguel ‘Mikey’ Arroyo.

Representative Ignacio ‘Iggy’ Arroyo, CGMA’s brother in-law, of the 5th District of Negros Occidental, died early this year.

“The Arroyos are part of the prominent political dynasties in the country,” Monterona noted.

Monterona said the issue on political dynasty is one of the reform agenda in the political front Pres. Aquino III has never given much attention, if not forgotten at all.

“PNoy is not even supporting the passage of bills in Congress dismantling political dynasties. We don’t know if his administration has any initiative to dismantle or discourage the rise of political dynasties in the country,” Monterona averred.

‘Even Pres. Aquino III is from a prominent political dynasty like the Arroyos. Will he seriously push the dismantling of political dynasties in the country as part of his political reform agenda?” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator

Migrante-Middle East

Mobile Nos. 00974 33 20 5565 / 0063 923 420 0112