CITY OF SAN FERNANDO --- Heeding the Kapampangan clamor for continuous public service, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has personally filed her certificate of candidacy for congresswoman of the 2nd congressional district of Pampanga.

As this developed, some 12,000 supporters flooded the San Agustin Church for the mass administered by 22 priest dedicated for the congressional bid of the President and attended the short program in which the President has formally announced her intention to run for congress in 2010 elections.

After which, the President together with her husband –Mike Arroyo, 2nd district Rep. Mikey Arroyo, 3rd district Rep. Aurelio Gonzales, 4th district Rep. Anna York Bondoc, Pampanga mayors and some members of her cabinet officials trooped to the office of Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Temie Lambino for the filing of her candidacy.

She has been also welcomed by hundreds of well-wishers in front of the provincial Comelec office.

The president said that she is running for the congress to continue serving her fellow kapampangan and not for immunity from suit.

”Congressional immunity is from libel suits for utterances made in a congressional sessions. Hindi yun ang hinahabol ko, this will reflect my ongoing commitment to public service [This is not my purpose of running],” the president said in an earlier interview on Radyo ng Bayan.
The President said she has given careful consideration by a number of options that she can pursue upon leaving office.

However, she said, she has come to conclusion that she can best serve the nation from a seat in congress should she be elected.

Arroyo also said that it was an honor and a privilege to serve the Filipino people as chief executive.
She said that after much looking forward to stepping down as President at the end of her term, she has been mulling different ways to stay involve.

“Tinignan ko ang pagbabalik sa pagtuturo [ I thought of going back to teaching] or working with non-profit organizations on issues on the environment, improvement of education and women issues,” she said.

Prior to this, multi-sectoral groups in Pampanga had urged the President to continue serving the people even in the capacity of a congresswoman.

”So after much soul searching I have decided to response affirmatively to their call. And I will file my candidacy for Congress in order to serve the hardworking people of my home province,” the president said.

”Ang paglilingkod sa publiko ay banal na trabaho [Serving the public is a holy act],” she said.
She clarified that although she is running for Congress, her work as the President will never be affected.

The President will remain in control of the national government until the last day of her term in office on June 30, 2010.

Arroyo claimed that her duty in Congress will be secondary to her duty as President.
“I will give a steady hand on the pillar of the ship of state. Our nation is entering a crucial election year at the time our economy has survived a global recession,” she said.

She added, it is important for her to focus on the executive duty to help the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to perform its role for a clean, honest and orderly automated elections.
”I will ensure the resources incur by the Comelec to see the election through and work cooperatively with the incoming administration,” she also said.

The President also clarified that she will only devote a little time in campaigning and much time in performing her duties as the chief executive until the last day of her term on June 30 next year.
”I will remain firmly in charge of the nation, our economy, defense and foreign policy until the last term in office,” the president added. (Joel P. Mapiles)