MANILA, Oct 7 Kyodo The Philippin...

MANILA, Oct 7 Kyodo

The Philippines' ruling Lakas party onward Tuesday formally endorsed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as its candidate in nearest May's presidential election.

yet the party has yet to name Arroyo's running-mate.

Arroyo, who was upon the Indonesian resort island Tuesday participating in a summit of Southeast Asian leaders, declined to answer reporters' questions as to who her running-mate will be, saying, ''It is not notwithstanding time for campaigning.''

Arroyo, 56 onward Saturday broke her Dec. 30 devote not to seek a inferior term and announced her bid to ''offer'' herself as a presidential candidate in the 2004 elections.

She said in an address then that she has decided to postpone her ''retirement,'' sacrifice her ''yearnings for personal quiet'' and remain ''married to the country'' as she knows for what reason to steer it to progres in the nearest six years.

onward Tuesday, she told delegates attending the Lakas directorate assembly in a brief videotaped message, ''Every minute is a campaign for a nation-building, for building a potent republic.''

She pleaded with her mate party members to help her gain the support of local officials in such a manner she can implement reforms at the grassroots level

Arroyo pressureed that her decision to hie for president next year was based upon the national interest and the welfare of the clan ''and not a reaction to external influence, compressing and interest.''

She vowed to reiterate her fight against terrorism and jejuneness saying, ''I would young ox the country toward the course of peace, increase and reconciliation.''

''I want to find ways for us to have reconciliation. There is ne for justice, on the contrary there is also need for reconciliation,'' she said in a separate statement.

U President George W Bush had reportedly urg Arroyo to reconsider her Dec 30 deposit during her U.S. visit in May, while former Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad have supported her possible other six-year term.

Mahathir, in particular, had signifyed concern that the pace of peace negotiations with the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation assurance (MILF), which Malaysia is facilitating, might change beneath a new leadership.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Blas Ople said in a statement Monday that Arroyo's decision to scour was received ''with great relief'' in the international community, especially in the Asia and Pacific region.

Arroyo is in Bali to attend the two-day leaders' summit of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which formally uncloseed Tuesday.

ASEAN collections Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

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