Manila - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Tuesday formalized her bid for a seat in Congress in next year's elections amid criticism over her candidacy. Arroyo, 62, is the first president of the Philippines to seek a lower position after serving as the country's leader.
The US-trained economist registered her candidacy for congress from the second district of her home province of Pampanga at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in San Fernando City, 60 kilometres north of Manila.
Tuesday was the last day for the filing of nominations for more than 18,000 national and local posts up for grabs in the May elections. The Comelec can accept nominations until midnight.
Attorney Ferdinand Rafanan, head of the Comelec's law department, said at least 72 people have so far filed their certificates of candidacy for president.
He said the commission would evaluate all candidates to weed out the nuisances and would come up with a final list of presidential aspirants by the end of the month.
Among the politicians who filed their certificates of candidacy for president on Tuesday were former defence secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross.
Gordon, standard bearer of the ruling political party, said he was not worried about warnings that his ties with the unpopular Arroyo would be a kiss of death to his presidential bid.
"I feel that I have proven to the Filipino people what I'm made of, what our platforms stand for and the people should discern on that basis," he said.
Arroyo was accompanied by her husband and eldest son, Juan Miguel, who is the incumbent for that district in the House of Representatives.
Hundreds of cheering supporters waited for Arroyo outside the Comelec office and jostled each other to shake hands with the president, who smiled and waved at the crowd.
In announcing her bid on Monday, Arroyo said she decided to run for Congress because she wanted to stay involved despite finishing her term as president.
"I realized I am not ready to step down completely from public service," she said.
Critics denounced her bid, saying it showed her greed for power.
They alleged that she wanted to be a member of Congress to have a shot at the post of prime minister if efforts to change the country's presidential system of government to a parliamentary one succeed.
Others accused her of seeking immunity from possible criminal cases that could be filed against her for allegations of electoral fraud and corruption.
But legal experts noted that Arroyo would not have the same immunity she has as president from such legal suits.
Arroyo has been president of the Philippines since 2001, when she took over from her disgraced predecessor Joseph Estrada, who was ousted in a military-backed mass uprising.
In 2004, she was re-elected as president under allegations of massive fraud. Her term expires on June 30.
