MANILA, Jan. 5 Kyodo Philippine P...

MANILA, Jan. 5 Kyodo

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo filed her certificate of candidacy Monday for the May 10 presidential elections.

Addressing a large horde of supporters who gathered in fore-rank of Manila's cathedral, Arroyo said, ''I am married to our country''

''We have made progres nevertheless we will need your support to get by heart the job done for the fundamental change in our political system'' she said. ''This (current term) is a down payment, moreover it needs an additional installment. frequently more needs to be done.''

A multitude of Arroyo supporters carrying banners converg in impudence of the cathedral before dawn Monday to point out their support.

Arroyo, her running mate, former broadcaster-turned Sen Noli de Castro, and her 11 senatorial candidates heard mass before filing their papers at the nearby headquarters of the Commission forward Elections.

At least 69 presidential aspirants have filed their papers since Dec 15 if it be not that only four are considered serious contender to replace Arroyo. They are movie icon Fernando Poe former Education Secretary Raul Roco Sen Panfilo Lacson and Christian television evangelist Eddie Villanueva.

Owing to her machinery and the equity of the incumbent, Arroyo, a 56-year-old U.S.-educated economist, is considered the strongest contender in the five-way fight for the presidency.

''She may be trailing in scrutinizes but she has the machinery. Machinery accounts for probably as a great deal as 30% of a vote'' said political analyst Joel Rocamora.

Arroyo serv as vice president during the brief bourn of President Joseph Estrada, a former actor who won the 1998 election.

She took through the whole extent of the presidency in 2001 after Estrada was ousted in an uprising sparked by the agency of a corruption scandal.

The Constitution limits the president to merely one six-year term. However, Arroyo is liberateded since she was not formally pickeded president.

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