Son files candidacy papers for Gloria Arroyo

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Second district Representative and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) through her son Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo at the provincial Commission on Elections office around 3 p.m. Tuesday.

“She is not feeling well at the moment and you can ask her doctors about that. I came here not for myself, but for my mother to file her COC as she seeks another term as representative of the second district of Pampanga,” Mikey told reporters.

When asked if the incumbent second district representative failed to attend due to health reasons, he said only his mother’s doctors can answer such questions.

The younger Arroyo, who is the party-list representative of Ang Galing Pinoy, also said that his mother would have wanted to file it herself but had to attend to pressing matters.

Mikey was accompanied by former Lubao mayor and vice governor wannabe Dennis Pineda, Mayors Ed Guerrero of Floridablanca, Yolly Pineda of Sta. Rita, Lala Leoncio of Sasmuan, Condralito Dela Cruz and Vice Mayor Dexter David of Porac and Mylyn Cayabyab of Lubao, together with second district councilors and barangay captains, in filing the former President’s COC through an official authorization before Provincial Comelec officer Lydia Pangilinan.

Arroyo is optimistic that his mother would be able to continue her programs for the district, particularly the socio-civic, health and educational programs that the former President had started under her first term as congresswoman.

Meanwhile, mayors who joined in the filing were unanimous in their support for the former President, adding their constituents also feel that Arroyo can still serve the people.