N.B. – This was published in Asian Correspondent (March 22, 10:50 p.m.) where I write a weekly column (Philippine Fantasy).
The unthinkable has happened in Philippine politics as the highest official of the land starts officially campaigning for what is technically a lower position. What proves to be more unimaginable is the claim from one of her spokespersons that she will campaign only for a limited period of time.
Starting March 26 (Friday), Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo joins other candidates in campaigning for various local positions, hers being a seat in the House of Representatives (HOR) to represent the second district of Pampanga.
As I wrote in a previous Asian Correspondent article, “she is the first Philippine President to run for a lower position.” She is now in an awkward position as she needs to campaign while serving the remainder of her term which ends on June 30.
Dismissing speculations that she will become an “absentee President,” Press Secretary Crispulo Icban said that Macapagal-Arroyo will only go to Pampanga to campaign only during weekends.
According to the official calendar of activities of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), the campaign period “for candidates for Member, House of Representatives and elective provincial, city and municipal officials” is from March 26 to May 8, or a period of 44 days.
There are only 13 weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) within that period. This simply means that she will only make herself visible in Pampanga in less than two weeks, or about 30 percent of the total number of days of the official campaign period.
Of course, one may argue that Macapagal-Arroyo has started “campaigning” even before she filed her certificate of candidacy last December 1. Her visits to Pampanga in 2009, for example, reportedly reached 50 as she visited or inaugurated various projects in the province.
Whether or not Macapagal-Arroyo will become a mere weekend candidate remains to be seen. But what Icban fails to mention is that the Presidency is a 24/7 job and it is normal for a President to work during nights and, yes, even during weekends. (I remember the time in February 2002 when I, together with a contingent from the University of the Philippines, had a meeting with Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang Palace which ended close to midnight.)
It is, of course, easy to schedule appointments and official functions to accommodate the President’s other concerns, in this case her bid for a seat in the HOR. Concerned government officials are expected to cover for the President in the event that she fails to attend important functions or perform her duties during the weekends that she is expected to be in Pampanga.
Given Macapagal-Arroyo’s lack of competition, she is almost assured of winning a seat in the House of Representatives. If and when she wins, she is certain not to be a weekend legislator. The biggest concern is that, by getting the House Speakership and changing the form of government from presidential to parliamentary, she will end up as the country’s perpetual ruler.
Yes, as early as now, there is reason to worry as she begins campaigning on March 26 (Friday).