Pimentel: Federalism will not allow term extension for Arroyo

MANILA, Philippines - Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr on Tuesday assured that Joint Resolution No. 10, which proposed a shift to a federal form of government, will not be used by President Arroyo to prolong her stay in power beyond 2010. “It’s not going to happen. I assure you. Not under my resolution,” Pimentel, author of the resolution, said. Pimentel said that while the resolution aims to federalize the country, it will still retain the existing presidential structure of government. He also warned the administration of a public backlash should it continue to ride on the federalism proposal to extend President Arroyo’s term. “I would like to say that Resolution 10 speaks only of a federal system. It does not deal with the adoption of a parliamentary system under which Gloria can conceivably extend her term by running for prime minister,” he said in a statement. Pimentel, who was from Mindanao, said President Arroyo’s recent statement of support to the federal form of government gives weight to insinuations that the peace agreement the government is trying to forge with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is merely “a pretense to amend the 1987 Constitution and to enable President Arroyo to circumvent the constitutional ban against her reelection.” Senate President Manuel Villar also questioned the timing of President Arroyo’s sudden support to federalism, saying it was given just as when the issue of a homeland pact with the MILF is hitting the headlines. Under Joint Resolution No. 10, a Constitutional Assembly will convene to amend the 1987 Constitution to federalize the whole republic. One of the 11 component federal states will be the Bangsa Moro Federal State. “Dahilan sa ako ay nagmamasid pa, nagiging complicated ito kasi sinabay sa GRP-MILF pact. Masyadong mahiwaga ang pagkakasabay na ito. Gusto kong malaman ano ba talaga ang puno't dulo nito (I’m monitoring the issue, and I’m finding it very complicated since it was timed with the government-MILF pact. I want to know everything behind this),” he said. Former Senate President Franklin Drilon, meanwhile, virtually knocked down Pimentel's resolution when he said that all provisions will be open to Charter Change once the Constitutional Assembly is convened. “This would include constitutional provisions that will allow a term extension for the President or the conversion to a parliamentary form of government that would allow President Arroyo to cling to power after 2010 as prime minister,” he said. Because of this, Drilon said a meaningful and credible Charter Change can only happen after President Arroyo steps down from office in 2010. Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan likewise said any move seeking to amend the present Charter should be done after 2010. He said he will “vigorously oppose” any effort by the Arroyo administration to push for constitutional amendments before the expiration of President Arroyo’s term. Sen. Pia Cayetano, for her part, said President Arroyo’s declaration of support for a shift to a federal system of government while innocent civilians are caught in the middle of a war in Mindanao sends the impression that charter change is needed to bring peace to the south. "Obviously, the federalism call is being used as an excuse to push charter change," she said. She also said that if the President was really serious with amending the Constitution, she should’ve mentioned it during her 8th State of the Nation Address (SONA) last month. Opposition Senator Loren Legarda said people must remain vigilant against the possible means that the administration would use to push for a charter change, even as she accused Palace of using the issue on MILF and the “restrained” homeland pact to push for something “that’s already been rejected by the people.” At the House of Representatives, party-list lawmakers Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casino (Bayan Muna), Liza Maza (Gabriela) and Rafael Mariano also assailed the Arroyo government for using the search for peace talks in Mindanao as shield to push for the charter change. - GMANews.TV