MANILA, Philippines?President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?s men Wednesday tiptoed around Bro. Mike Velarde?s threat to call out his followers to march against Charter change, saying she had consistently disclaimed plans for a term extension whether under the 1987 Constitution or a revised one.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said that despite Velarde?s threat to lead one-million-strong street protests by members of his El Shaddai if Ms Arroyo did not stop her allies and her sons from pushing Charter change, Malacañang respected his position.

?Everybody has the right to do whatever they feel is within their democratic rights. As far as the Palace is concerned, we will continue doing what we are supposed to do as the executive,? Dureza told reporters in Hong Kong, where he accompanied Ms Arroyo to the Clinton Global Initiative.

He added: ?The President has been very categorical ... that she will work up to the end of her term. Any insinuation that she is behind efforts [to extend] her term is totally speculative and totally false because she had categorically stated that, as far as she is concerned, there will be no extension of terms whether in this Constitution or in an amended Constitution.?

In Manila, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said he did not believe that the threat of Velarde, the President?s spiritual adviser, was as real as was reported Wednesday in the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net).

?I don?t think he said he was threatening to do that,? Ermita told reporters at his weekly briefing.

?He just said they might go to the streets. That?s just a plan; that?s just a statement. We should not be concerned too much about that,? he added.

Velarde, leader of the four-million strong El Shaddai religious movement, made the threat in an interview with the Inquirer.

He said Ms Arroyo should exercise her ?persuasive powers? on administration lawmakers, including her sons, to withdraw their support for House resolutions seeking Charter change through a constituent assembly (Con-ass).

He also said he believed that Ms Arroyo would step down on June 30, 2010, but that her allies wanted her to stay beyond her term.

At the House, Speaker Prospero Nograles suggested a dialogue with Velarde to explain the chamber?s position on Charter change.

Nograles acknowledged that Velarde?s statements constituted ?a warning? that should not be taken lightly.

?But everything can be ironed out through an honest-to-goodness exchange of ideas and dialogue with Brother Mike. He is reasonable and he will listen to good reason,? the Speaker said.

In a text message, Ms Arroyo?s political adviser Gabriel Claudio said he and other Palace officials would hold a dialogue with lawmakers to reach a
Consensus on ?acceptable? constitutional amendments.

?Without abandoning the administration?s advocacy for constitutional reforms in order to secure the country?s economic and political stability, we will seek a dialogue with leaders of the House to help forge a consensus on Charter change that is acceptable to the people,? Claudio said, adding:

?What is needed is a clear consensus on the substance, limits, method and timing of such change. The President has always been in favor of establishing such a consensus.?

Dureza said at a media briefing in Hong Kong that the President respected the separation of powers between the executive branch and the legislature.

?Right now, we respect each other?s mandate. The Palace will do its work. Congress will do its own work. You know, ultimately it will be decided by the sovereign will. The people will ultimately make the final decision on Charter change and all the other issues,? he said.

Asked about Velarde?s comment that Ms Arroyo would not be a good parent if she could not control her own children, Dureza said: ?Well, they work as members of Congress. They belong to another institution.?

Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, the President?s elder son, is said to be gathering signatures for a House resolution calling for a Con-ass as a means for Charter change.

The signature drive is expected to be backed by his brother, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo, and his uncle, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo.

But Dureza said: ?The Palace is not involved at all in what is happening in Congress. Congress has its own mandate. It has its own work.?

He branded as ?speculative? the claim of the opposition that Ms Arroyo might hold on to power as a prime minister should there be a shift to a parliamentary form of government.

Asked if Ms Arroyo was willing to sign a pledge that she would step down when her term ends, as suggested by some Catholic bishops, Dureza said: ?She will just continue doing what she feels should be done as President?governance.

?All talk?

Ermita said the administration had no reason to be alarmed by Velarde?s warning or former President Fidel Ramos? caution to lawmakers against Charter change.

?These are all statements by responsible leaders, and I don?t think there?s a cause for alarm. Theirs is nothing more than a personal impression about the subject matter of Charter change. It?s not a cause for the administration to be threatened at all,? he said.

As for warnings of ?people power? if the administration insisted on pushing Charter change, Ermita said: ?Let?s cross the bridge when we reach it. We?re talking of something that?s not even consummated yet. It?s just all talk.?

Undersecretary Lorelei Fajardo, a deputy spokesperson of Ms Arroyo, agreed that Malacañang could not dictate on a coequal branch like the House of Representatives.

?This is not a time for anger and rash behavior. We need to think calmly and act judiciously. Wielding power over an independent body is not good leadership, especially since they have not committed anything unlawful,? Fajardo said in reaction to Velarde?s warning.

People power

But Malacañang ?listens to each piece of sound advice, and bows to the will of the people,? she said. ?Lawmakers undoubtedly do, too.?

Political analyst Ramon Casiple said Malacañang should not belittle the warnings of Velarde, Ramos and other allies of Ms Arroyo.

?If it?s Velarde only, that?s okay. But if it?s Velarde plus, plus, that?s another matter. You?re talking of people who are allies of the President,? Casiple said on the phone.

He said street protests could come to a head if the administration insisted on the amendment of the Charter despite strong public opposition.

?There?s a possibility of people power. That?s the only alternative left for the people if the administration insists on Charter change,? he said.

Dr. Carol Araullo, chair of the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), said that even without formal organization, there was now a vast united front against Charter change (Cha-cha) that included progressive groups, religious formations and political parties.

?Everyone else is against the idea. Cha-cha is now widely rejected and isolated ... The opposition to Cha-cha now may be broader than it was in previous years,? Araullo said in a statement.

Dec. 12 rally

Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said more groups were expressing interest to join the Dec. 12 interfaith prayer assembly on Ayala Avenue, Makati City, as a venue to show ?indignation? over Charter change.

?On Dec. 12, all roads will lead to Ayala ... It will be a good thing for the country to unite at this critical juncture in our history. We encourage everyone to come?all who are against Charter change, term extension and the sellout of our land and patrimony. Bring your own placards, signs and noise-makers,? Reyes said.

Activist, religious, political and cause-oriented groups are expected to join the rally dubbed ?Labanan ang Cha-cha ni Gloria? in Makati, the bailiwick of Mayor and United Opposition (UNO) president Jejomar Binay.

UNO spokesperson Adel Tamano said the group welcomed Velarde?s warning to Ms Arroyo and her allies, and urged him to make good his threat by joining the Dec. 12 rally.

?If there is one issue that cuts across all political and religious groups and unites the vast majority of Filipinos, it is our stand against GMA?s (Ms Arroyo?s) Cha-cha,? Tamano said.

Con-ass in 2009

But Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor continued his push for Charter change, and said he wanted a Con-ass in 2009 for the amended Constitution to take effect in 2010.

Defensor belittled claims that Charter change should be deferred because of suspicions that it would be used to lift term limits on the President and other elected officials.

He said there would always be suspicion that Charter change would be used for personal gain. The remedy, he said, was to make the changes applicable only during the next term.

Asked to comment on Velarde?s warning, Defensor said the proponents of Charter change only needed to explain their position. With reports from Leila B. Salaverria and Allison W. Lopez