Palace keeping hands off Charter change
By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:34:00 11/21/2008
Filed Under: Charter change, Government, Politics
MANILA, Philippines -- Malacañang is keeping its hands off moves in the House of Representatives, reportedly spearheaded by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's son, to amend the 1987 Constitution.
"While the Palace has consistently advocated for reforms in the Constitution, the process of achieving those needed reforms is something that is within the mandate and competence of Congress. Hence, we leave this issue to the legislative department to handle," Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said in a statement.
While he admitted to asking colleagues to sign a resolution calling for Charter change, Pampanga Representative Juan ‘Mikey” Miguel Arroyo said the proposed amendments do not include a term extension for his mother.
Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio defended the young Arroyo, saying: "It's not correct, much less fair to conclude that Mikey is behind cha-cha [charter change] in the House."
"As far as we're concerned, he prefers to be considered an ordinary member of the administration coalition in the House and was showing only as much interest in our acquiescence with the charter change moves as the other members of the coalition," Claudio said of the young Arroyo.
Representative Arroyo has said the Charter change resolution was not his but that of Camarines Sur Representative Luis Villafuerte, president of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi, Partner of the Free Filipino), the party founded by the President.
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