GUAGUA, Pampanga, Philippines? Heeding the counsel of family and friends and in protest of a lopsided fight, University of the Philippines professor Randy David has ditched his plan to challenge President Macapagal-Arroyo in case she runs as representative of this Pampanga?s second district.

As he announced his decision in the family?s ancestral home here on Sunday, David also urged Ms Arroyo to take the path of decency by not running for any position below the presidency.

?I appeal to Ms Arroyo to listen to the quiet voice of decency and delicadeza rather than allow herself to be deluded by the self-serving clamor being spearheaded by her political allies in Pampanga,? he said, referring to what he called ?zarzuela? mounted by the President?s son, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, and mayors.

If she proceeds with her candidacy, David said that would be ?sobrang kapal ng mukha, sobrang walanghiya (too callous, too shameless),? adding it was unthinkable that the highest official of the land would slide to being a member of Congress or a governor demoting himself as a barangay captain.

If and when the President ran for representative, David told reporters that Ms Arroyo would create not only a lopsided fight but also an ?unjust situation? for her rivals.

She made that possible through her almost 50 visits in Guagua, Sasmuan, Lubao, Sta. Rita, Floridablanca and Porac this year, David said.

Already, he noted that Ms Arroyo put herself in an advantageous position just by being an incumbent President. In that position, she had mobilized government agencies to deliver projects and services, he further said.

?Of course, it?s good that our kabalen (province mates) benefited, but why has she not given the services in the past eight years of her terms? It?s clear that her motive was for the elections,? David said.

He was confident that not all Kapampangans would be fooled and ?bought? in next year?s polls.

David said he was staying out of politics and remain as a political activist.

?I am heeding the counsel of family, friends, and colleagues from academe who are concerned that my taking on a political role as a candidate would undermine the authority I have carefully cultivated as a social analyst and public intellectual,? he said in a statement.

David said he would leave it up to Gov. Eddie Panlilio, chair of the Liberal Party in Pampanga, to find a rival against Ms Arroyo.

He assured that while he opted not to run for public office, he would participate in actions to seek change.

David also pledged to join protests in the event Ms Arroyo succeeded to get the speakership of the House of Representatives or attempt to mount a campaign for Charter Change on the way to being a prime minister.

?I stand by my earlier pledge to do everything to stop her from trifling with our democratic system in her quest to perpetuate herself in power beyond 2010. In the coming months I hope to participate in a nationwide movement to promote a new vision for Philippine politics so that our people may know better than to continue voting for politicians like her,? said David.

?Even if she wins as [congresswoman in] Pampanga, that victory will mean nothing if there are not enough congressmen from her party who will vote for her as Speaker,? he said.

David said he was also appalled that amid the economic crisis and on the heels of the massacre in Maguindanao, the President and her allies ?have no rest in their political ambitions.?

?I hope that instead of running, she would let decency and propriety reign and use the remaining months of her term in ensuring that the elections will be honest, orderly, clean and peaceful,? he said.

David also bowed out of the race in respect for the position of his younger brother, Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David.

?I don?t want him to be forced to campaign for me. He?s a moral shepherd. I would not wish that on my brother. I don?t want him to cross that line,? he said.

As of Sunday, only one candidate has so far filed a certificate of candidacy for the second district of Pampanga.

Feliciano Serrano, an electrical engineer in Porac, said he would not mind having Ms Arroyo as a rival.