Sunday, November 23, 2008 Official refutes 'no-el' claim
MALACAÑANG on Saturday debunked claims by its critics it is cooking up a no-election (no-el) scenario hand in hand with a bid to amend the 1987 Constitution.
Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Cerge Remonde also took a dig at Palace critics who he said keep on harping about Charter change and the no-el scenarios.
"I see no reason why the 2010 elections should not push through. Even if the Charter is amended, the 2010 elections will still push through because any amendment to the Constitution will require a plebiscite," he said.
Remonde maintained Malacañang had nothing to do with moves to amend the 1987 Constitution, insisting the matter is purely an affair of Congress.
He said the Palace is focusing on the economy and softening the impact of the global economic meltdown on Filipinos.
"We have nothing to do with it. The President (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) insofar as Malacañang is concerned is focusing on the economy and protecting Filipinos from the effects of the global financial meltdown," he said.
According to Remonde, the Palace critics are the ones fanning public anger over the issue of Charter change.
As far as the Palace is concerned, he said the matter is up to both houses of Congress.
He added that Arroyo's "exasperation" when Press Secretary Jesus Dureza prayed that she might rule "even beyond" 2010, shows she "really does not want to talk about politics."
"Neither the President nor Malacañang had anything to do with this. If people are angry, it is because our detractors have been egging them on," the official said.
Remonde said he found it "not surprising" that critics, including Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, criticize the administration at every opportunity. (JMR/Sunnex)
(November 23, 2008 issue) Write letter to the editor. Click here.
