Arroyo skips Alyansa’s Pampanga sortie to go to Singapore

Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo . Bibo Nueva Espana/Senate PRIB.

MANILA, Philippines — Former president and now Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was not able to attend the Lakas-CMD meeting and the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas sorties in her hometown.

Her office said she was in Singapore.

This was confirmed by her office on Wednesday, after reporters and netizens asked why Arroyo, Lakas-CMD chairperson emeritus, was absent during the party’s meeting at Malacañang on Tuesday.

“Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is still in Singapore,” Lance Chua Suarez, a staffer at Arroyo’s office, said.

During Lakas-CMD’s meeting, party president and House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez appealed to his party-mates to continue — and intensify — their support for Alyansa, noting that there should be no ifs and buts.

READ: Romualdez appeals to Lakas-CMD: Support Alyansa, no ifs and buts

According to the Speaker, Alyansa’s candidates were picked by President Marcos for a reason, as they will be the administration’s partners in its goal of attaining peace, progress, and prosperity for the country.

Pampanga officials

And then earlier, Alyansa candidates were invited by local officials of Pampanga —including Governor Dennis Pineda and Vice Governor Lilia Pineda — to attend rallies in Angeles City and San Fernando City.

Arroyo was expected to be present at the second venue of the local rally, at Laus Events Center in San Fernando, but she was notably absent.

Arroyo however finds herself at a tricky situation as Lakas-CMD is part of the five-party team that forms the Alyansa, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), the National Unity Party (NUP), and the Nacionalista Party (NP).

The former president meanwhile is a known ally of Vice President Sara Duterte, who has openly criticized Marcos and has fielded a different line-up.

Alyansa is fielding an 11-person slate for the 2025 midterm elections:

• Former DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos (PFP)
• Makati City Mayor Abby Binay (NPC)
• Senator Pia Cayetano (NP)
• Senator  Lito Lapid (NPC)
• Former Senator  Ping Lacson (Independent)
• Former Senator  Manny Pacquiao (Independent)
• Senator  Bong Revilla (Lakas-CMD)
• Former Senate President  Tito Sotto (NPC)
• Senator Francis Tolentino (PFP)
• House Deputy Majority Leader  Erwin Tulfo (Lakas-CMD)
• House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar (NP)