GMA Confirms She Will Run for Congress.

[infinite27]

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Hello Garcie! Hello Garcie!

[surikbots]

5 Arroyos in Congress may set a world record

By Carmela Fonbuena, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak | 12/01/2009 1:36 AM

MANILA - If President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo wins as representative of the 2nd district of Pampanga in the May 2010 elections and 4 of her relatives also get elected to the House of Representatives, the Philippines may yet set a new world record on political dynasties.
"There will be 5 Arroyos in the House. I am not sure that's happened elsewhere. It's all in the family," said Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson, who, on Monday, came out with a full-page newspaper advertisement calling for new blood in politics.

“I am not aware of any such similar situation abroad," noted lawyer Carlos Medina, referring to the number of family members occupying one law-making body.

"If it happens here, it will be an abomination,” noted Medina who is with poll watchdog group Legal Network for Truthful Elections.

Rep. Joson and Medina both assailed the President's congressional plans amid recent not-so-flattering news about the Philippines.

"Perhaps she wants to make it to the Ripley's Believe it or Not or the Guinness World Records as the first President to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the longest serving public servant rated as No. 1 in corruption, and No. 1 in rice importation," Rep. Joson added.

Last November 23, the Philippines landed in the record books for having the most number of journalists killed in an election-related incident when 30 died in the Maguindanao massacre. The carnage was allegedly committed by a close ally of President Arroyo--the Ampatuans of Maguindanao.

All in the family

Relatives occupying positions in various government posts are common even in democratic governments. Sets of father and son, mother and son, and brothers serving at the same time are common in legislatures such as in India and Botswana. (Read story on Indian parliament here and Botswana here) Likewise, in the United States, relatives have served simultaneously in the House of Representatives.

But to have 4 family members—and possibly 5—in one law-making body all at the same time is rare.
There are 4 Arroyos in the current 14th Congress. They are
- presidential son Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo
- presidential son Camarines Sur 1st District Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Macapagal Arroyo
- President Arroyo’s brother-in-law Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo,
- President Arroyo's sister-in-law Ang Kasangga party-list Rep. Ma. Lourdes Arroyo.

President Arroyo plans to take over the post of son Mikey. But if rumors are true, Mikey will be joining a party-list group so he can possibly stay in the House of Representatives. Abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak sent the congressman a text message to verify the rumors, but he has yet to answer our query, as of this posting.

Rep. Iggy Arroyo is on his second term and is still eligible for another 3-year term.

Reps. Dato and Lourdes are on their first terms in the lower House.

Dato has filed his certificate of candidacy in the newly created district in Camarines Sur province. President Arroyo signed the law creating the new Camarines Sur district.

However, President Arroyo is not the first to run for a lower post after serving as Philippine president. Jose P. Laurel, president from 1943 to 1945 during the Japanese Occupation, served as a senator after the war.

[ako_taloy]

it seems you surikbots etc.. always lost your battle against the arroyos? lol....

[endlessknight]

Wa na gyuy makalupig sa kabaga sa nawong aning atong presidente. Daghan man gud sala mao hadlok ma-preso, mapareha nya syang Erap.

[Hinara]

GMA can run, but she can't hide from responsibility for the scandals & controversies that hounded her years in office. -Kiko Pangilinan-

[rambutan]

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is a MAMMON

[KASAAC]

patay... power hungry.

mao jud bro power hunger!

hahay mga tawong walay uwao!

[raizene]

well maka ingun ta na mga wlay uwaw sila but the fact nga ang mga tawo maoy mo-botar aron sila mabutang sa ilahang pwesto...hmmm...

[nirdle_phogi]

^ kun dili manikas lge pud? Bcn i hukos pukos diay nila ang mga boto sa mga kabalen..

[Hinara]

~What seems to be the logic of the politics here in our country...
> "I know how to sing, dance, act, and host, I tell you who to vote..."
or if the worst comes to the worst...
> "I know how to sing, dance, act, and host, I tell you to vote for me..."

LET'S CREATE CHANGE! LET'S GET TO KNOW WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES, AND VOTE FOR THE BEST!