Liberal Party 'undecided' on candidate in Arroyo district

THE ruling Liberal Party (LP) is still looking for a candidate that it will field against incumbent Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the second district of Pampanga province.

Ifugao Representative Teddy Brawner Baguilat Jr., LP deputy spokesperson, said that for the 2013 midterm polls, the Aquino-led political party has not yet chosen its candidate for Arroyo's district.

Arroyo, also a former President, is currently under hospital detention at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City on charges of electoral sabotage, in connection with the 2007 poll fraud.

House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said Wednesday that Arroyo will likely seek reelection.

"I think she will (run again). If ever she does, I don't think anybody will contest her position," Suarez said.

After her nine-year term as Chief Executive, Arroyo ran and won a seat in the House of Representatives in 2010. She received 169,109 of the 219,592 votes cast, while her closest rival Adonis Simpao of the LP only got 20,922 votes.

Baguilat said an LP candidate would have a better chance of winning in against the detained lawmaker. "Of course, (we'll have a better chance). Pampanga insiders say she's no longer as strong in Pampanga," he added.

Earlier, Commission on Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes said that Arroyo can still run in the 2013 elections because she has not been convicted of any crime. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)