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Thursday, December 21, 2006
May 2007 polls to go on as scheduled: Malacañang
MANILA -- Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor on Wednesday said there are some people egging on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to push through with Charter change even if holding it before the May elections could lead to disaster.
Defensor, in an interview with radio station dzMM, said he does not know the full details but he knew about this after several meetings with certain groups.
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Defensor, who is planning to run for senator in the May elections, reiterated that it is not yet time for Charter change and pushing the matter now may only lead to public outrage.
He added that as Cabinet members, it is their duty to ensure that the President does not make a decision that would end up hurting the country.
Defensor added that the way he sees it, the President's recent pronouncement on Charter change only stresses the need for a united stand on the issue and until everyone finally agrees on when and how to amend the Constitution, it would not be right to push it now.
Arroyo said earlier that Charter change is a reality that the people should accept and face up to. She said her administration is determined to push for it.
Presidential adviser for political affairs Gabriel Claudio said the President's continued pitch for Charter change should not be misconstrued as pushing for the cancellation of elections.
Claudio said there would be elections in May as scheduled.
"The President simply wants to stress that there should be a national consensus on Charter change because it has a reformist purpose and vision towards greater political stability and sustained economic growth through a more responsive form of governance," he said.
Claudio added that while Charter change is a major component of Arroyo's reform programs, "she is not dictating the means or the timing to achieve it. This is precisely what has to be the subject of a consensus."
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the administration respects and accepts the latest developments on the Charter change efforts and apart from that, he prefers not to comment anymore.
Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz, meanwhile, said he is not surprised that Arroyo changed her mind about pursuing Charter change.
"The present national leadership is once again avidly pursuing Charter change after having shelved it but some days ago. At first, it tried the discredited people's initiative. Then, it attempted to push the infamous Constituent Assembly. Now, it is fixated with going for Constitutional Convention - the earlier the better, but definitely before 2010," said Cruz.
He said it is obvious that the Arroyo administration is deceiving not only the bishops but the entire nation because it only showed that her recent declaration to push Charter change indicated she has no plans to abandon the move.
Cruz said the Constitution needs to be amended and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is not opposed to it but wants the endeavor to take place after 2010. (JMR/MSN/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (December 21, 2006 issue)
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