Palace: Arroyo son just an ordinary guy
By TJ Burgonio, Tonette Orejas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:52:00 11/22/2008
Filed Under: Laws, Constitution, Government, Charter change
MANILA, Philippines—The eldest child of President Macapagal-Arroyo prefers to be treated as an ordinary member of the administration coalition.
Thus, according to the President’s political adviser Gabriel Claudio, “it’s not correct, much less fair, to conclude that [Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo] is behind Cha-cha in the House.”
Claudio on Friday described the representative of Pampanga as an ordinary Joe in the course of denying that the latter was leading a signature drive in the House of Representatives to push Charter change through a constituent assembly, as Iloilo Rep. Raul Gonzalez Jr. had claimed.
Mikey Arroyo himself confirmed that there was indeed a Con-ass resolution, but only to “revisit” the provisions of the Constitution, and not to extend his mother’s term.
But an administration solon, who requested anonymity, said that the Con-ass pushers need not lay down all their intentions in their Charter change resolution, because once the Constitution was up for amendment, all of its provisions could theoretically be changed, including the single term limit for the President.
Neither mother nor son
Asked who was leading the signature drive, Arroyo said his “impression” was that Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte was the “principal author” and that Nograles, the president of the ruling Lakas-NUCD, had “endorsed” it.
“We’re not familiar with the circumstances under which Cong Mikey was dragged into this issue or was said to have been involved in gathering signatures for the Con-ass resolution,” Claudio admitted.
“As far as we are concerned, he prefers to be considered an ordinary member of the administration coalition in the house,” Claudio said.
Both Claudio and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita took pains to emphasize that neither mother nor son was orchestrating the Charter change drive in the House.
Ermita said on the phone that the drive did not have the President’s imprimatur.
Said Claudio in a text message: “For the record, the Palace is not the initiator [or] orchestrator of Charter change moves in the House.”
‘Jump-started by JDV’
Mikey Arroyo himself let loose with an emphatic “No” when asked if he was actually leading the signature drive for the Con-ass resolution.
“I’m not the principal proponent. If you look at the papers, I think my signature was on the third or fourth page,” he told Inquirer Central Luzon on the phone. “It’s the same document JDV egged his colleagues to sign last year. He was the one who jump-started this.”
Mikey Arroyo was referring to Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia, a former ally and staunch defender of the President with whom she had a falling-out.
Early in February, it was reported that Mikey Arroyo and his younger brother, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Macapagal-Arroyo, were leading their mother’s political allies in a campaign to unseat then Speaker De Venecia.
Villafuerte was reported as saying then that the President’s two sons, along with their uncle, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, were “at the forefront of moves to replace the Speaker.”
“I don’t think the President will stop them from doing what they want,” Villafuerte, the president of Ms Arroyo’s party, Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), was also quoted as saying.
De Venecia ultimately lost the speakership to Prospero Nograles.
“Nobody is forcing anybody to sign anything,” Mikey Arroyo said.
The young Arroyo confirmed that he had asked some of his colleagues to sign the resolution: “I will not deny [that]. That is what we do in Congress. We are a collegial body. We ask each other’s opinion to get a sense of direction in legislation. We’re not a dictatorship.”
He said he did so because “I really believe in Cha-cha.”
“I stick to my view that there is a need to revisit the provisions of the Constitution,” said the young Arroyo, who chairs the House energy committee. “Investors are asking Congress to amend some provisions on national patrimony.”
The Palace’s reasons
Claudio conceded that Malacañang had “neither prevented nor discouraged” the Charter change move, but said it had its reasons.
“This has been due not only to the cliché about Congress being an independent branch of government but [also] out of this administration’s consistent belief in the need for constitutional reforms to significantly boost the country’s chance for growth and development,” he said.
Claudio said Malacañang would support measures seeking to lift restrictive economic provisions.
He said the President had been advocating constitutional reforms since 2004, specifically those entailing the removal of institutional obstacles to investments, sustained economic viability and political stability.
The Con-ass resolution deserved a “sober consideration” amid the global meltdown, Claudio said.
Mikey’s right
He said the Palace "will disown, exclude and reject one that deals with term extensions and other schemes to perpetuate or otherwise politically benefit incumbent elective officials, including the President.”
Ermita said Charter change had “never been a subject matter, whether personal or official,” between the President and himself.
He defended Mikey Arroyo from insinuations that the latter was spearheading the Charter change move for personal reasons: “Mikey is a congressman. He has a right to get involved in this.”
Ermita made similar remarks in an interview with reporters after seeing the President off on her flight to Peru for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
He said Ms Arroyo and her Cabinet had not discussed plans to amend the Constitution, but that the young Arroyo, as a member of the House, had every right to pursue Charter change.
“The other chambers of government, independent bodies such as Congress, can take their own action on it, and, for that matter, maybe other sectors. But as far as the executive branch is concerned, we have not taken a position on Charter change. We have not discussed it,” Ermita said, adding:
“[Mikey Arroyo] is also a member of Congress, and so there’s nothing that can prevent him from taking his own action.”
Ermita also said the President was adamant in keeping her distance from the controversial subject but would not stop her allies from pursuing it.
He said the fate of the resolution depended on Congress.
On the phone with Inquirer Central Luzon, Mikey Arroyo said he could not name one person as behind the signature campaign because in Congress, “all bills are really circulated whether people support [these] or not.”
He said actual number of those who had signed the Con-ass resolution were “fluid.”
“They may affix or withdraw their signatures at any moment.”
The young Arroyo confirmed approaching Iloilo congressman Gonzalez about the Con-ass resolution: “I did. He’s one of my good friends. I’m part Ilonggo. I told you [earlier] that I cannot deny the fact that I asked some of my colleagues to look at the resolution, to consider it. We are a scholarly, collegial body.”
He said his brother, Dato Arroyo, was also a signatory, but declined to talk about the latter’s part in the signature drive. “I don’t speak for him. We’re not the ringleader.”
Reminded of his and his brother’s role in De Venecia’s ouster as Speaker, Mikey Arroyo said 174 congressmen had voted for the change in leadership.
“I was only one vote. Stop pointing at me,” he said.
He pointed out that the Con-ass was “the same direction” that De Venecia was “espousing.”
‘Like a dress’
Mikey Arroyo said the Constitution needed change.
“It’s like a dress. You repair it when you gain weight or slim down,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino. The Philippines in 2008 is so different [from] 1986. The population alone is much bigger now.”
He said the Con-ass resolution should be seen as an effort “for the country.”
“My main issues are the economic provisions. Some are looking at political provisions. We have here a convergence of interests for our country. We’re doing our sworn duty,” he added.
Mikey Arroyo ruled out speculations that he was pushing for Charter change for his mother’s political ambition. With reports from Kristine L. Alave and Schatzi Quodala of Inquirer Research
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