President Arroyo is not retiring from politics after all when her tenure ends next year.

In an unprecedented move in the nation’s history, the President on Monday declared plans to run for congresswoman in the second district of Pampanga in next year’s elections in response to the clamor of her supporters in her home province.

“Yes, I will file my certificate of candidacy,” Mrs. Arroyo said in a media interview in Malacañang when asked about her response to her cabalens urging her to run.

This will be the first time in the nation’s history that a President would seek another public office at the end of her term. If she wins the congressional race, the President could stay in the post for three consecutive terms.

The President’s declaration was made on the eve of the deadline of the filing of certificates of candidacy before the Commission on Elections.

It was still unclear if the President would personally file her certificate at the poll office or let a representative carry out the errand.

The President’s election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said the President does not need to take a leave of absence or resign from the presidency when she campaigns in Pampanga.

Macalintal added there was no legal impediment in the President’s decision to seek a congressional post. The Constitution bans a president from seeking re-election.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the country could benefit if the President would run in Pampanga next year. Remonde said the President, who previously served as vice president and senator before being catapulted to the presidency in 2001, remains an asset to public service.

Last Saturday, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo led a group of political leaders from Pampanga to Malacanang and urged the President to be their  representative in Congress. Arroyo said he was ready to give way to his mother.

A day before that, around 300 supporters of the President from Pampanga trooped to the Palace and made a similar appeal.

On both occasions, the President merely thanked her supporters and left them without any categorical answer.

Speculations about the President’s electoral plans in 2010 were triggered by her frequent visits to Pampanga where she often checked infrastructure and social services. The President has visited her home province more than 40 times this year.

For his part, former President Joseph Estrada said Mrs. Arroyo is not qualified to run for Congress.

“Ang opinion ko dun, basta ang incumbent (president), lalo na pag nakatapos ng six years, doon naga-apply yung no reelection or no election for any position,” Estrada said after filing his own CoC) for president.

“Kaya pinagbabawal sa incumbent to run for reelection kasi he/she has undue advantage over his opponents because he/she has all government resources,” he added.

Estrada, who was ousted in January 2001 via the Edsa People Power 2 revolt that led to Mrs. Arroyo’s ascension to the presidency, said his case should be treated differently from his successor because he was not able to finish his term.

“Two and a half years lang ako kaya pwedeng pwede tayo tumakbo para tapusin ang aking termino. At saka isa pa, hindi ako incumbent,” Estrada said.

Earlier in Pampanga, a group of journalists, writers and civic leaders have added their voice to the clamor for Mrs. Arroyo to run.

The group said in its publication called “Lubao Leader” that there is nothing illegal, immoral or unethical about President Arroyo seeking the post of congresswoman contrary to claims of critics of the administration.

The group made known their stand after residents and 20 mayors of Pampanga urged the President to run days before the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy.

Mrs. Arroyo is merely “going back and retracing the congressional roots of her late father, President Diosdado Macapagal, which he served with distinction from 1949 to 1957” before he eventually became Vice President and later President of the Philippines, the group said.

“In seeking the congressional post, the President is only bolstering the legendary achievements of Lubao like being the only municipality in the country which has produced two Philippine Presidents, two Vice Presidents, two Senators and at least three congressmen and some Cabinet members,” said the group. (With reports from Leslie Ann Aquino and Franco Regala)