MANILA, Philippines--Malacañang said on Sunday it would block any efforts to lift the constitutional term limits on elected officials, including that on the President, as oppositionists began organizing against a new attempt by Congress to amend the Constitution.

"The Palace will dismiss, exclude and reject amendments that deal with term extension or other moves or schemes to perpetuate (the interest of) or politically benefit incumbent elective officials to include the President," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez said in an interview over dzRB radio.

Opposition groups earlier said the move to amend the Constitution would be a way of extending Arroyo’s term in power beyond 2010.

The Charter change opposition also now includes the leading initiator of the failed drive to revise the 1987 Constitution through people’s initiative in 2006.

Raul Lambino, chief legal counsel of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and a close associate of ousted Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., said the move to amend the charter through a constituent assembly—regardless of whether it extended term limits or not— was unconstitutional.

"It’s not allowed in the Constitution," he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

"Amendments and revisions in the Constitution, if undertaken by Congress, are a non-legislative function," said Lambino, adding that the Congress could hold a joint session and vote jointly only on the "revocation of the proclamation of martial law or the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus."

Article XVII, Section 1 of the Constitution states: "Any amendment to, or revision of, this Constitution may be proposed by: (1) The Congress, upon a vote of three-fourths of all its Members; or (2) A constitutional convention."

Lambino, spokesperson of the Sigaw ng Bayan (Cry of the Nation) alliance, said he has been mobilizing the same forces that gathered more than six million signatures two years ago, this time to block the push for Charter change through a constituent assembly.

"We will go out and explain to the people," he said.

In 2006, the Supreme Court dismissed Lambino’s signature drive, describing it as a "grand deception" and a "gigantic fraud."

Lambino said the Sigaw ng Bayan would continue to push for Charter revisions, but only through a constitutional convention or people’s initiative.

He admitted that the group would likely lose a number of member organizations loyal to Malacañang.

"There are still well-meaning groups left," he added.

Lambino will now find himself allied with his former foes—anti-government student groups.

The coalition Youth for Accountability and Truth Now (Youth ACT Now), composed of the National Union of Students of the Philippines, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, League of Filipino Students, Anakbayan and the Student Christian Movement, will launch on Monday a signature campaign against Charter change.

In a statement, LFS chair Vencer Crisotomo said students from the University of the Philippines-Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, Jose Rizal University, Technological University of the Philippines and some high schools in Quezon City would gather signatures from passers-by in Philcoa, Quezon City, at noon Monday.

Meanwhile, Crisostomo said students from UP-Manila, Adamson University, Philippine Christian University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Lyceum of the Philippines, Letran College would converge in front of the UP-Manila Padre Faura gate at noon Monday to collect signatures against Charter change.

"Our signature campaign will mark widespread youth opposition to Cha-cha and Arroyo's term extension. It is also part of our campaign to make the public aware of the administration's real motives for pushing for Cha-cha," Crisostomo said.

The youth groups will also lead pocket protests in different areas around Metro Manila at 5 pm in the afternoon Monday. Students will stage noise barrages against charter change in Philcoa, in front of Manila City Hall and Stop and Shop in Cubao, QC.

On Monday, Youth ACT Now will hold a youth teach-in dubbed, 'Confront the Crisis, Campaign for Change!', at 1 p.m. at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila.

"The youth's united call is change in government, change in the system. These are the genuine changes we want, not Arroyo's charter change," Anakbayan chair Ken Ramos added in a statement.