Friday, February 15, 2008 Editorial: Reviving Cha-cha discussion
ONE thing admirable with some of the close aides of President Arroyo is they never give up.
This even if their leader has assumed a stance of disinterestedness.
In fact, the Palace itself has reportedly cautioned local leaders to slow down on moves to resurrect discussion on Charter change (Cha-cha).
This after the reported launching of a Cha-cha campaign in Legaspi City spearheaded by a former Malacañang chief of staff and presidential economic adviser.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita asked the so-called administration allies in local government units “to stop the drive aimed at adopting a federal system of government.”
Ermita said it was only prudent for the Palace to tell pro-administration governors and other local leaders to slow down.
Reactions
Senate President Manuel Villar claims that the move for Cha-cha is nothing but an effort to “divert the public’s attention from fresh testimonies linking Malacañang to the anomalous National Broadband Network (NBN) deal.
The Senate is probing the $329 million deal with China’s ZTE Corp. that linked the President’s husband and Comelec former Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos to the overpriced deal.
On the other hand, opposition senator Aquilino Pimentel said he “fully supported moves to amend the Constitution to implement a federal form of government” in our country.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan considers the Legaspi City launching as untimely.
It made the whole event appear “to be suspicious, coming on the heels of the scandals over alleged kickbacks.”
In the House of Representatives, some members fear that “revival of Cha-cha initiatives might fan the flames of discontent.”
Diversionary move
What political observers are saying is that the Legaspi City launching was intended to divert the nation’s focus on the Senate inquiry, although it was made to look like it was beyond the pale of presidential knowledge and will.
What seems to be the best course to follow is to let the Cha-cha remain where it has always been these past many months.
The issue was abandoned by the leaders of the administration in the recent past not just because of growing opposition to it, but also for its being too divisive.
It is best to let Cha-cha lie where it is now until the time comes when it should bark again.
