MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gave a “hats off” to Speaker Prospero Nograles for his “firm leadership” of the House of Representatives.

Arroyo saluted Nograles in a speech before a convention of the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines at the Apo View Hotel in Davao City on Friday. The Speaker was in the audience.

“I would like to greet and give my hats off to Speaker Boy Nograles for his firm leadership of the House of Representatives, and thank you also Boy and other people of Davao City for hosting this very important convention,” she said.

Asked what the President meant when she tipped her hat off to Nograles, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said: "I do not want to read between the lines, take it for what it is that the President has continued to respect the leadership of the House... I'd rather not read anything, nor should anybody else for that matter."

Arroyo issued the statement after Nograles said on Thursday that he would file a resolution that would pave the way for lawmakers to convene themselves into a constituent assembly that would revise the Charter.

The resolution, signed by 175 lawmakers, was drafted by Camarines Sur Representative Luis Villafuerte, president of Arroyo’s Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) party.

Talk of Nograles’ ouster as Speaker spread after his action to amend the 1987 Charter was perceived as slow.

Arroyo’s critics see Charter change as a way for the incumbent to extend her stay in power after her term ends in 2010.