FSGOs hit lifting of term limits; Palace: Arroyo won't seek extension
09/23/2008 | 01:41 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO) and administration critics on Monday launched a signature campaign against a possible term extension for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo beyond 2010.
In a statement posted in their official website, the FSGOs and their supporters noted that "the talk of a brazen attempt to extend the term of Mrs. Arroyo simply will not die."
"We declare our united opposition to any moves that exploit the Mindanao situation to extend Mrs. Arroyo’s stay in power, to any attempt to amend the Constitution before 2010, to any attempt to change the Constitution through a Constituent Assembly, and to any step towards declaring Martial Law," the statement read.
The FSGOs, in a press conference in San Juan City Monday, invited the public to sign the petition by visiting their official site.
"We call on all Filipinos to be vigilant, to inform themselves, to organize with like-minded fellow citizens, and to prepare to show our leaders and officials the true power of our democracy," the statement said.
Malacañang, however, claimed that fears of a term extension are unfounded.
"The President intends to vacate her office when her term ends in 2010 and does not know where such fear-mongering is coming from. Let us stay focused and help the President make the best of the remainder of the term," said Deputy Presidential Spokesman Lorelei C. Fajardo.
The FSGO Web site showed the groups that support the petition were Black and White Movement, Association of Foundations, Be Not Afraid Movement, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, Foundation for Economic Freedom, Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Educational Theater Association and Student Councils’ Association of the Philippines.
The FSGO and their supporters expressed concern over the House of Representatives’ decision to conduct "public consultations" on constitutional amendments and that they may use their numerical superiority to bypass the Senate, which has been critical of the administration.
"Some legislators have been vocal in pushing their interpretation that ’the Constitution requires only a two thirds vote of its members to propose amendments to the Constitution,’ an interpretation that would make the Senators’ votes almost irrelevant in the process," it said.
They also accused the administration of rushing a land agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and feared that the continuous violence in Mindanao would lead to martial rule.
"The inevitable armed confrontations and deaths that will follow could be a ready-made platform to suspend the writ of habeas corpus or, heaven forbid, even the declaration of Martial Law. The Constitution requires only a vote of a majority of the members of Congress, voting jointly, to approve and extend Martial Law," they said.
The administration critics called for "a just and sustainable peace in Mindanao" and vowed to support all possible actions that will pave way to the resumption of peace negotiations between the government and the Muslim rebels.
Recent efforts to amend the constitution did not gain popular support due to suspicions that these would be used to prolong Mrs. Arroyo’s stay in office.
Lately, officials like Trade Secretary Peter B. Favila and Interio Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno said it is time to amend the Constitution, particularly its economic provisions, to make the country more attractive to investors. — Alexis Douglas B. Romero, BusinessWorld
In a statement posted in their official website, the FSGOs and their supporters noted that "the talk of a brazen attempt to extend the term of Mrs. Arroyo simply will not die."
"We declare our united opposition to any moves that exploit the Mindanao situation to extend Mrs. Arroyo’s stay in power, to any attempt to amend the Constitution before 2010, to any attempt to change the Constitution through a Constituent Assembly, and to any step towards declaring Martial Law," the statement read.
The FSGOs, in a press conference in San Juan City Monday, invited the public to sign the petition by visiting their official site.
"We call on all Filipinos to be vigilant, to inform themselves, to organize with like-minded fellow citizens, and to prepare to show our leaders and officials the true power of our democracy," the statement said.
Malacañang, however, claimed that fears of a term extension are unfounded.
"The President intends to vacate her office when her term ends in 2010 and does not know where such fear-mongering is coming from. Let us stay focused and help the President make the best of the remainder of the term," said Deputy Presidential Spokesman Lorelei C. Fajardo.
The FSGO Web site showed the groups that support the petition were Black and White Movement, Association of Foundations, Be Not Afraid Movement, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, Foundation for Economic Freedom, Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Educational Theater Association and Student Councils’ Association of the Philippines.
The FSGO and their supporters expressed concern over the House of Representatives’ decision to conduct "public consultations" on constitutional amendments and that they may use their numerical superiority to bypass the Senate, which has been critical of the administration.
"Some legislators have been vocal in pushing their interpretation that ’the Constitution requires only a two thirds vote of its members to propose amendments to the Constitution,’ an interpretation that would make the Senators’ votes almost irrelevant in the process," it said.
They also accused the administration of rushing a land agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and feared that the continuous violence in Mindanao would lead to martial rule.
"The inevitable armed confrontations and deaths that will follow could be a ready-made platform to suspend the writ of habeas corpus or, heaven forbid, even the declaration of Martial Law. The Constitution requires only a vote of a majority of the members of Congress, voting jointly, to approve and extend Martial Law," they said.
The administration critics called for "a just and sustainable peace in Mindanao" and vowed to support all possible actions that will pave way to the resumption of peace negotiations between the government and the Muslim rebels.
Recent efforts to amend the constitution did not gain popular support due to suspicions that these would be used to prolong Mrs. Arroyo’s stay in office.
Lately, officials like Trade Secretary Peter B. Favila and Interio Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno said it is time to amend the Constitution, particularly its economic provisions, to make the country more attractive to investors. — Alexis Douglas B. Romero, BusinessWorld
