Bali, Indonesia -- Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople yesterday threw his full support behind the announced candidacy of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the May 2004 elections.

Breaking his silence for the first time over political issues since he quit the Senate to join the Cabinet of President Arroyo, Ople said:

“The President has done right to announce her decision to run. This decision has already put some order in the chaotic world of Philippine politics.”

“Now the people will have a clear choice.”

Ople made the statement from Bali, Indonesia, where he is attending the Ninth ASEAN Summit, scheduled on October 7-8, with President Arroyo in attendance with 9 other leaders of Southeast Asia.  He will be back in Manila on October 9.

The foreign secretary, a former senator and Senate President, said he will consult with political leaders in his home province, Bulacan, on the Lakas offer for him to head the policy advisory council of the party.

He said his acceptance would imply his resignation as a ranking leader of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) being chairman of its Central Luzon chapter.  “I’ll be making a civilized farewell to my colleagues in the opposition,” Ople said, adding:

“I have already informally crossed party lines when I accepted the kind invitation of President Arroyo to join her Cabinet, but this has not yet been formalized.”

Now that the President has made up her mind to run in 2004, things have to fall in place.

Ople said he expects to see “a good fight for the Presidency.” GMA is highly favored but “we cannot afford complacency.  “She will be running on a good record and an inspiring vision of the future, but the strength of the opposition cannot be under-rated.”

Ople said the defections of Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Jr. and Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda are a matter of deep regret, but this will not impoverish the party because it can count on a deep bench of committed leaders.

“There will be no exodus.  On the other hand we face the prospect of being overwhelmed by new members who believe in President Arroyo’s leadership and vision.”

“The problem is how to accommodate the abundance of political talents who are seeking to run for different offices under the Lakas banner,” he added.

Ople said foreign policy will be a “strong suite” of the President’s campaign.

“No one has thought more deeply about national security and human security for the ordinary people than President Arroyo,” he said.

“No President has enjoyed more respect and admiration in the international community than President Arroyo,” Ople said.

“Today, the Filipino nation under her leadership has won universal esteem and respect,” Ople said.

While he pledged his full support to the President’s announced candidacy, Ople however said the Department of Foreign Affairs as an institution will remain nonpartisan and will help the Commission on Elections undertake its tasks in absentee voting “with total impartiality and integrity,” adding:

“The Philippine foreign service is a highly professionalized organization.  It will not be swayed from its duty of rendering impartial and equitable service to the Filipino people regardless of politics or partisan considerations.

The foreign secretary said President Arroyo’s decision to run has been received “with great relief” in the international community, especially in Asia and the Pacific because the prospect of her election with a fresh mandate will enhance the continuity and stability of government policies in Southeast Asia.”

END