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Thursday, June 26, 2003
Cha-cha not among Glo's top priorities
By She Caguimbal-Torres
FOR the ninth time, President Arroyo said amending the 1987 Constitution is not among her immediate priorities, although she said the country's future would be assured if reforms were introduced in the Charter.
Arroyo, in a prepared statement, said: "Charter change is not in our immediate realm of priorities, although we acknowledge that our national future can be better secured through certain amendments to the fundamental law."
But she was quick to add that: "We are leaving the debate to Congress while the executive branch concentrates on the most pressing and vital problems of the nation. At the moment, the presidency is not engaged in this issue."
Presidential adviser on political affairs Hernani Braganza denied reports quoting former UP President Jose Abueva that Malacaņang has formed a 40-man study group that would draft the proposed amendments to the Constitution, including the extension of Arroyo's term until 2007.
"Much more, neither did she order nor instruct any person to explore the possibilities of an extension of term as alleged by former UP president Jose Abueva," Braganza said.
He said Arroyo has repeatedly said that she will let Congress handle the Charter change issue and would rather focus her attention on the pressing problems of the country such as the Mindanao peace and order and economic situations.
He said the President would soon be swamped with more working visits such as her eight-day sortie to Mindanao and with the fight against terrorism and illegal drugs that there won't be any time to delve into issues like term extensions.
He said Arroyo would call on Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. and presidential adviser on special concerns Norberto Gonzales to give a more detailed briefing on efforts to amend the Constitution "if only to give the people a more transparent view of the issues at hand and avoid any misinterpretation that could impute ill-motive in the Charter change move."
He said the President would also "caution" the two officials to "keep her out of such issues." "As the President has stated before, there will be elections in May 2004," he added.
(June 26, 2003 issue)
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