LAKAS-Kampi deputy secretary general Reginald said Wednesday it would be difficult for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign from her position if she runs for congressman in 2010.

The administration party, along with election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, filed a petition with the Supreme Court in October.

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It seeks to nullify Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 8678, which states an appointed government official "shall be ipso facto (as a result) resigned upon their filing of COC (certificate of candidacy) on or before November 30, 2009 for the 2010 elections."

"A lot of people will be put in a bind, especially the officials of the administration -- not only Cabinet members but the local officials...The President for example, her mandate until June 30 (2010), what will happen to that?" Velasco said at a forum.

This is amid talks that Arroyo will be running for a congressional seat in her hometown Pampanga, as well as Cabinet officials such as Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, and Health Secretary Francisco Duque.

The petitioners said the government officials seeking election should instead resign "only upon the start of the campaign period," which is on February 9, 2010.

Nacionalista Party senatoriable lawyer Adel Tamano said his personal stand is that he just wants the President "to finish her term."

Tamano said the law only prohibits Arroyo to run again for President and not for any other position.

"Kahit anong galit mo kay (No matter how angry people are at) Arroyo, we have to follow the law," he said, adding that he is personally tired of all the bashing against the President.

Tamano said he resigned from his position as president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) to avoid people saying that "he is using his position for political purposes."

Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) spokesman Representative Rex Gatchalian also said the President does not have to resign if she wants to run for congress

"Let the people decide at the end of the day," Gatchalian added.

Among the government officials who resigned from their posts are Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane and National Economic Development Authority (Neda) Chief Ralph Recto.

Ebdane has declared his intention to join the presidential race while Recto plans to run for senator in the May 2010 elections.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, the standard bearer of Lakas-Kampi-CMD for the presidency, said he will be resigning in two weeks. (Justine Paredes/Sunnex)