09 November 2005
Palace: Talk on cutting GMA term premature
MALACAÑANG branded as premature talks about the cutting short the term limit of President Arroyo, stressing that such would all depend on the transitory provisions of the amended Constitution to be drafted by Congress as well as the recommendations of the Consultative Commission (Con-Com).
Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye emphasized in a radio interview that the proposal to shorten the term of the President will be covered by the amended Charter.
“The foremost consideration in changing the Charter is changing the form of government as well as economic reforms. Congress must amend the Constitution first before we proceed to other matters,” he said, in oblique reference to a term cut for President Arroyo.
Bunye was reacting to published reports that the President has agreed to hold elections for a new parliamentary government in 2007 once a new Constitution is ratified next year.
The report quoted an unnamed source as saying the President made the commitment to former President Fidel V. Ramos and Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. during a private meeting Monday.
Bunye neither confirmed nor denied the story beyond saying it is hard to confirm a report quoting an unnamed source.
“Alam ninyo, mahirap mag-comment sa speculation. Ang sinasabi lang natin ay ano talaga ang realistic. Ano ang realistic? Ang importante ay magkaroon muna talaga ng desisyon na amyendahan (The important thing is there must be a decision to amend the Constitution),” he said.
The Press Secretary noted that while the Executive branch is amenable to Charter change and a strong move is afoot in the House of Representatives to amend the Constitution, the same cannot be said of the Senate.
In a press briefing, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita reiterated the President’s support of Charter change, saying the Chief Executive believes that Charter change is the solution to the political crisis hounding the country.
Ermita said he shared the view of Bunye that it is premature to talk about term limits when Congress has yet to decide on what features should be amended in a Charter change.
“We cannot anticipate what the different committees of the Consultative Commission would recommend as to the form of government and the transitory provision,” he said, adding that the Commission is still consulting people in the provinces.
Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye emphasized in a radio interview that the proposal to shorten the term of the President will be covered by the amended Charter.
“The foremost consideration in changing the Charter is changing the form of government as well as economic reforms. Congress must amend the Constitution first before we proceed to other matters,” he said, in oblique reference to a term cut for President Arroyo.
Bunye was reacting to published reports that the President has agreed to hold elections for a new parliamentary government in 2007 once a new Constitution is ratified next year.
The report quoted an unnamed source as saying the President made the commitment to former President Fidel V. Ramos and Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. during a private meeting Monday.
Bunye neither confirmed nor denied the story beyond saying it is hard to confirm a report quoting an unnamed source.
“Alam ninyo, mahirap mag-comment sa speculation. Ang sinasabi lang natin ay ano talaga ang realistic. Ano ang realistic? Ang importante ay magkaroon muna talaga ng desisyon na amyendahan (The important thing is there must be a decision to amend the Constitution),” he said.
The Press Secretary noted that while the Executive branch is amenable to Charter change and a strong move is afoot in the House of Representatives to amend the Constitution, the same cannot be said of the Senate.
In a press briefing, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita reiterated the President’s support of Charter change, saying the Chief Executive believes that Charter change is the solution to the political crisis hounding the country.
Ermita said he shared the view of Bunye that it is premature to talk about term limits when Congress has yet to decide on what features should be amended in a Charter change.
“We cannot anticipate what the different committees of the Consultative Commission would recommend as to the form of government and the transitory provision,” he said, adding that the Commission is still consulting people in the provinces.
