MANILA, Philippines?El Shaddai leader Mariano ?Mike? Velarde Sunday said he had suggested to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that she abandon plans to amend the Constitution before her term ends in 2010, warning that to do so now would be divisive.

?My position is always to have a constitutional convention in 2010 so that the issues can be extensively discussed,? Velarde said in an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net).

?My advice was to postpone Cha-cha (Charter change)?it?s very divisive?and to have Con-con (constitutional convention) by electing delegates during the elections. Let it go until 2010,? he added.

In spite an upset stomach and fever earlier last week, Ms Arroyo joined 35,000 El Shaddai faithful at the Quirino Grandstand on Saturday night during rain-drenched celebrations marking the 24th anniversary of the religious movement and Velarde?s 69th birthday.

Ms Arroyo had dinner and heard a 10 p.m. Mass with Velarde and his family. According to El Shaddai members, she stayed for about three hours. They also noted that it was the President?s longest stay in the prayer-rally, as she usually only attended the Mass.

Velarde, spiritual adviser to the President, said he discussed with her moves to change the 1987 Constitution and proposals from administration allies in the House of Representatives to extend her term, which ends in 2010.

If the overhauling of the 1987 Charter were left to lawmakers, Velarde said it would not be representative of the people?s wishes. He said he also expressed suspicions that some lawmakers would push for their own interests, referring to proposals to extend the term of incumbent elected officials.

?Cha-cha will not solve our problems,? he stressed.

Should the proposal for a constitutional convention push through, Velarde said he ?might consider? running for delegate. ?I want a Charter that is really reflective of the people and suited for what we are today,? he said.

Velarde, whose charismatic movement boasts of around 5 million members, said he expected moves in the House to amend the Charter would peter out. He said the proposal had many legal hurdles to overcome and that some senators opposed the measure.

He also told Ms Arroyo that tinkering with the Constitution to make way for the peace agreement between the government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would be a bad move for the country in the long run.

?What would stop other groups from calling for the same? It?s a bad precedent,? he said.

The President did not say anything about his advice, according to Velarde. However, she explained that the idea to change the 1987 Constitution did not come from her but from the April resolution filed in the Senate by Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

?She was exploring the possibility of federalism under the proposal of Senator Pimentel,? Velarde said.

Malacañang has announced its support for Pimentel?s federalism bill as it would allow the creation of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity envisioned in the draft memorandum of agreement with the MILF.

Velarde also noted that Ms Arroyo had acknowledged that any plans to amend the Charter from the House would not succeed unless the Senate supported it.

As to proposals to extend the President?s term beyond 2010, Velarde said he believed that it was not part of Ms Arroyo?s plans.

Velarde said the President had asked for his support so that her projects would be completed before the end of her term. She did not ask for his support in her allies? campaign for Charter change and the reported extension of her term, he stressed.