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Thursday, July 28, 2005
Arroyo creates body on Charter change
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo got down to the business of amending the 1987 Constitution that may mean cutting short her six-year term and setting fresh elections as early as next year.
She announced Wednesday that she will initiate the creation of a consultative constitutional commission that will give inputs to the House of Representatives on possible amendments to the Constitution leading to Charter change.
She made the announcement during her first press conference in Malacañang's Rizal Hall since the "Hello Garci" tape scandal erupted last June 6.
The President did not directly answer whether she would be willing to leave office early if Congress takes up her suggestion to amend the Constitution and switch to a parliamentary form of government.
"I don't want to preempt the decision of those who will draft the new Constitution," she said.
Presidential Management Staff chief Rigoberto Tiglao, for his part, said it is inappropriate for the President to commit herself to any term cut because of the legal ramifications.
"She has a constitutional term and the legal question of whether it can be shortened would be up to the constitutional convention or the constituent assembly to decide," Tiglao told newsmen.
However, majority of the senators have already said they are against turning Congress into a constituent assembly to amend the Charter.
Earlier this month, Arroyo's senior adviser, former President Fidel Ramos, had suggested an early shift to a parliamentary system as a "graceful exit" for the beleaguered President.
But in an interview in Kuala Lumpur, Ramos said Arroyo should be allowed to run for prime minister under a new form of government.
"She should be allowed to run because for now she is innocent of any of the charges until proven otherwise," he told reporters during a visit to the Malaysian capital.
The President is facing an impeachment complaint over allegations she cheated her way to victory in last year's elections by conspiring with former election official Virgilio Garcillano.
Under Ramos' timetable for reforms, Arroyo could make way for a prime minister by June next year rather than 2010 when her six-year term expires.
But he said Wednesday that it was still unclear whether Arroyo was willing to adhere to the timetable and cut short her term.
"Some of us have indicated that there is a proposal which will provide everybody new momentum by the 30th of June 2006," he said.
"As to whether she is willing to do that, well, we don't know yet but she seemed very eager to have parliamentary and constitutional reforms because of her State of the Nation Address (Sona) three days ago," Ramos further said.
The 77-year-old ruled out running for prime minister himself and said he had challenged the congress to pass a law prohibiting past presidents from running under an amended constitution.
"That is how committed I am to remaining a private citizen," Ramos said.
The President said she is thankful for Ramos' "strategic output on what should be done for the Philippines."
She said those who were disappointed over the lack of "drama" or any other announcement during her Sona should not look farther from Charter change.
"I'm not a dramatic person. I am a hard working person who works to plod for the betterment of our nation. If they were looking for drama, what could be more dramatic than changing our political system?" the President said.
The drama was provided Wednesday by the reporters who covered the President's news conference.
Foreign correspondents said they were shut out of the event and the Palace reporters said their questions were screened.
The President dismissed criticism that she is promoting changes to the 1987 Constitution to divert public attention from the impeachment case or calls for her resignation, saying she has advocated constitutional reforms since the 2004 election campaign.
"Our country will continuously have crisis until we have changed the system," the President said Wednesday.
"This system over the years has been deteriorating, so this is the result. So we have to make fundamental change in the system," she added.
She directed Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to coordinate with her legal team on the issuance of an administrative order establishing the consultative constitutional commission (CCC).
The President said she intends to tap the services of constitutional expert and former University of the Philippines president Jose Abueva as part of the legal team that will form the CCC.
She explained that the commission will only submit inputs or proposals but the decision in amending the Constitution solely depends on Congress. (PNA/Manila Standard Today/Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)
Related links:
Sona 2005
Sona 2004
Sona 2003
Sona 2002
Sona 2001
(July 28, 2005 issue)
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