Dureza's prayer puts Arroyo on spot

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was put on the spot Tuesday as her own press secretary hinted of her staying in power beyond her term. During an opening prayer at the Cabinet meeting held at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room in Malacañang, Press Secretary Jesus G. Dureza asked that the President be given the strength to lead until 2010 or even beyond. "Bless the President so we will have forbearance, good health, the tolerance to lead this nation up to 2010, and perhaps, who knows, even beyond," he said. Photographers then simultaneously took photos of the President who appeared uneasy as the prayer ended. Visibly embarrassed, Mrs. Arroyo, who was in good mood when she entered the room, immediately blurted out "Oh my God!" and covered her face with her hands. Putting on a smile, the President told the media covering the meeting not to publish or air the prayer, an order that drew laughs and murmurs from those in the room. "That prayer was off the record... So why don’t we [Cabinet] get everybody seated. Please tama na, tama na [enough, enough]," she said. After the media were asked to leave, Mr. Dureza asked the cameramen not to release the video files containing the opening prayer. Political analysts said Monday’s leadership change at the Senate may revive efforts to amend the Constitution and extend the President’s term. Senator Manuel B. Villar, Jr. has resigned as Senate president and was replaced by Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, an ally of Mrs. Arroyo and a Charter change advocate. Mr. Villar quit due to loss of confidence from colleagues. In the same prayer, Mr. Dureza prayed for Mr. Enrile, whom he described as "oldest" and "volatile" but is nevertheless "a man for all seasons." After the media were asked to leave the meeting area, the Press Secretary reportedly asked TV cameramen not to release the video files containing the opening prayer. In a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, Mr. Dureza clarified he referred to the President’s capability of serving the nation "in her personal and private capacity." He added the prayer was spontaneous as he left the text he had prepared. "I’d like to do a light prayer... I’m sure the Lord also has a lot of sense of humor and my prayer was in that context. I said something about the hope that the President would have the tolerance to serve the nation even beyond 2010," he said. "What was grounded off was my statement that she will perform beyond 2010 in her personal and private capacity. Everybody thought it was a slip on my part but it was intentional in a sense it was a light prayer... but some people did not get it right maybe they did not have that much sense of humor." He denied that the President is interested in a term extension. When asked if he was reprimanded by Mrs. Arroyo, Mr. Dureza said: "No, I was not... She had a good laugh after." Previous efforts to amend the Constitution did not gain popular support as these had been viewed as ways to prolong the President’s stay in power. — Alexis Douglas B. Romero, BusinessWorld