Opposition Senator, Teresa Aquino Oreta, expressed dismay at the growing signs that Arroyo would defy her pledge and run for another term.
Arroyo's "fixation with politicking could mean goodbye to her reform promises that prompted her in the first place to announce her decision to withdraw from next year's race so she could concentrate on good governance."
Oreta said the promises "would all go down the drain because her political lieutenants are once more too preoccupied with 2004 politics."
Arroyo has however been urged to run for another term by senior Catholic church leader Cardinal Jaime Sin, and former president Fidel Ramos, both of whom are influential in the predominately Roman Catholic country, as well as in her Lakas party.
"I myself feel that she is the strongest candidate from our party and from the coalition for president," Ramos said.
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