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Sunday, January 15, 2006
Arroyo pushes Charter change in Lakas meet
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Saturday night made firm her stand on the need to undertake Charter change, saying that amendments in the 1987 Constitution should be made "by the middle of this year."
In a speech she delivered during the party's National Directorate meeting held at the Heroes Hall of Malacañang Palace, Arroyo said Charter change is one of the three major fronts the party should confront, the other two being the economy and poverty.
Arroyo said while she is running the economy, Congress and local government units should gather the people to rally behind Charter change.
"I shall be at the helm of both the economy and the pump priming program for social equity. Congress and the local governments shall push the pincer attack on Charter change, gathering force behind the mandate of the people," Arroyo said.
"What we need is more aggressive advocacies. To shoot down threats even before takeoff, to rally the people behind Charter Change, to demonstrate party rule attuned to a parliamentary system," she added.
The meeting, which started around 8 pm and held in closed door, was still ongoing as of this posting. Arroyo's speech during the meeting was however aired at the government-run radio station.
Officials from the ruling party earlier said they are expected to resolve during the meeting the party's stand on various issues, particularly the contentious issues of Charter change.
It can be recalled that party leaders, Arroyo and former President Fidel Ramos, have been at odds the past months after the latter has advised the former to cut short her term and step down by 2007 to pave the way for the new form of government.
Ramos said Arroyo's sacrifice is needed, noting that the political crisis she is currently facing might do more harm to the economic and political stability of the country.
Aside from Arroyo's term, the party is expected to decide on one of the controversial recommendation of the Consultative Commission created by Arroyo, which is suggesting for the cancellation of next year's senatorial and local elections and incumbent officials should serve as transition leaders until the new set of officials elected under the parliamentary system shall take place by 2010.
Aside from Charter Change, Arroyo said the party must also be instrumental in the sustaining the gains of the economy and bring relief to the people "battered by high oil prices and unemployment."
"We have a plan for each front and each must be pursued," she said.
"Our strategic aim is permanent political and economic stability to take us to the threshold of the first world in twenty years. We must strengthen our ranks to enforce and sustain full democratic leadership until 2010 and for the next generation," she added.
Arroyo also flaunted during the meeting the soundness of the economy, which she said backed by strong peso, strong stock market and investment flows as well as the boom in tourism.
Arroyo also took the occasion to render a stern warning against the "spoilers" in the opposition plotting to oust her from the presidency.
"We shall preserve our coalitions on the pedestal of principles and ideals, and never on the shaky floors of expediency. With our heavy armory of democracy and legitimacy, we shall fight the squads of destabilizers and spoilers in the opposition," she said.
Arroyo's critics, led by the mainstream opposition, have vowed to pursue ousting her from the Presidency amid the unresolved charges of electoral fraud.
The charges stemmed from allegations that she cheated during the 2004 Presidential race, which was backed by an alleged wiretapped conversation between her and an election commissioner.
The allegation, which broke out on June last year, nearly saw the fall of her administration with most of her key economic ministers resigning from their respective posts.
Arroyo apparently got a sigh of relief when the House of Representatives, dominated by her loyal party mates and political allies, overwhelmingly junked the impeachment complaint filed against her.
Meanwhile, Representative Ma. Imelda "Imee" Marcos warned the President and her allies to be cautious and vigilant "because the former president is known for betraying friends and partymates."
"With FVR (former president Fidel V. Ramos) around, just watch your back."
During the weekly "Kapihan sa Sulo" forum, Marcos expressed doubt on Ramos' proclamation of support to President Arroyo.
"Knowing FVR, he has several aces tucked under his sleeves. He knows Arroyo's weak spots. And if ever he does not get what he wants, expect him to stage an offensive against the President," Marcos said.
Marcos also said Ramos never respects any gentleman's agreement, as what happened in 1992 between him and the late former speaker Ramon Mitra.
She recalled that in the 1992 Lakas ng Demokratikong Pilipino National Convention, Ramos forged a gentleman's agreement with Mitra to support whoever will be nominated as the party's standard-bearer.
But instead of respecting the decision of the convention, Ramos created an instant party--Lakas Tao, Marcos added.
Marcos also said Ramos would only use the Lakas convention as a ploy to show that he agrees with a so-called "win-win formula" on President Arroyo to finish her term "but he will not respect it."
The reason why Ramos rallied behind Arroyo during that crucial July 8 Hyatt 10 incident was because he does not want the opposition to be in the picture," Marcos said.
Marcos predicted that the Lakas caucus would only lead to further misunderstanding between Arroyo and Ramos as dominant blocs within the party will try to push for President Arroyo's continued governance until 2010.
"I don't want to be anti-climactic but everyone expects that whatever the outcome be, FVR will
never respect any gentleman's agreement. And I would not be surprised to see full page ads in
newspapers with the pitch: 'Take over, Eddie!," Marcos added. (JPM/JMR/Sunnex) |
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