Balay Drilon

Villafuerte’s resolution was “deceptive” when it vowed that the process would not:

extend the terms of office of the President and the Vice President;
the terms of other elective officials will not be extended;
the terms of office of the 12 senators who were elected in 2007 for a six-year term ending in 2013 shall not be shortened and they shall be allowed to finish their terms; and
that there shall be elections.

Of course, under the Kampi plan to install President Arroyo as prime minister after the 2010, all those four conditions will mean nothing. It is all a grand deception plan designed to install President Arroyo as prime minister even after the holding of the 2010 elections. This deceptive plan will pave the way for a Gloria Forever Constitution.

I agree with the statement of former Speaker Jose de Venecia that President Arroyo is the prime mover behind the plan to amend the 1987 Constitution and shift the form of government from presidential to parliamentary.

There have been persistent reports that during the birthday party of Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez, neophyte Congressmen were asked to sign the Villafuerte resolution in the presence of the President herself. Sometime during the last quarter of 2008, President Arroyo was also reported to have told a meeting of Senators in Malacanang that Charter Change must be implemented soon. The President was quoted to have said “kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa.”

Recall that I earlier called for vigilance against moves by the allies of the Arroyo government to carry out Charter changes through a constituent assembly minus the Senate. The move is illegal and unconstitutional and should be condemned by the public. Doing Charter Change at this time would only exacerbate present political instability and uncertainty.

Read more on Drilon news today:

Cha-Cha to install Arroyo as PM after 2010

Public urged to remain vigilant vs Cha-Cha moves

Define 'premature campaigning'

The Arroyo administration is guilty of "double speak" on the issue of charter change. The deceitful moves of Malacañang and its allies only reinforce suspicions that the exercise is intended to extend the president's stay in power beyond 2010.

While President Arroyo appears to be no longer be interested in pushing for Charter Change and extending her term, her eldest son, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo, was spearheading a signature campaign in the House of Representatives to amend the 1987 Constitution through a constituent assembly.

The double speak of Malacañang on the issue to Charter Change is too obvious to ignore. It is now clear to most Filipinos that despite her patent unpopularity, President Arroyo has not given up on the prospects of extending her stay in power until after 2010.

This relentless presidential desire to stay in power appears to be the principal motivation behind the deceitful moves to amend the Constitution even if it would mean sacrificing the tradition democratic institutions of our country.

Let me reiterate that pushing for Charter Change at this time would have a devastating effect on the national economy that is already suffering from the effects on the ongoing global financial crisis.

Makati business leaders have expressed fears over Malacañang's renewed efforts to amend the Constitution, which they said would not help any in alleviating the country's flagging economy.

I had been a staunch critic of Charter Change when I was Senate President of the 13th Congress, and I had argued that amending the Constitution was not the appropriate solution to resolve the current political and financial turmoil in the country.

The proposed charter change will not eradicate corruption in government which is the very root cause of the country's present problems. What we need is not a change in the system but a change in the character of the people in government.

GMA as prime minister after 2010?

Why the “double speak?”

About

Archive

Get Updates