Palace debunks ‘no-el’ claims, twits critics over ‘Chacha’ row

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Saturday debunked claims by its critics that it is cooking up a no-election (no-el) scenario hand in hand with a bid to amend the1987 Constitution. Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Cerge Remonde also took a dig at Palace critics who he said keep on harping about Charter change and the “no-el" scenarios. "Wala ako nakikitang dahilan na ‘di matuloy ang 2010 election. Even kung magkaroon ng Cha-cha it will not mean d’i matutuloy ang 2010 election. Ang nakita kong scenario diyan kung may Cha-cha dapat idaan sa plebiscite ‘yan (I see no reason why the 2010 election should not push through. Even if the Charter is amended, the 2010 election will still push through because any amendment to the Constitution will require a plebiscite)," he said on government-run dzRB radio. Remonde also maintained Malacañang had nothing to do with moves to amend the 1987 Constitution, insisting the matter is purely an affair of Congress. He said the Palace is focusing on the economy and softening the impact of the global economic meltdown on Filipinos. "Wala kaming kinalaman riyan. Si Pangulong Gloria ang sa amin insofar as Malacañang is concerned naka-focus kami sa economy at pagpaplano at paghahanda kung anong pwedeng gawing maitulong especially in the face of this economic meltdown (We have nothing to do with it. The president insofar as Malacañang is concerned is focusing on the economy and protecting Filipinos from the effects of the global financial meltdown)," he said. Remonde lamented that Palace critics are fanning public anger over the issue of Charter change. He said that as far as the Palace is concerned, the matter is up to both houses of Congress. He said Arroyo's "exasperation" when Press Secretary Jesus Dureza prayed that she might rule "even beyond" 2010, shows she "really does not want to talk about politics." "’Di talaga si pangulo o Malacañang ang utak niyan as if pinalabas nang ganoon … Kung umaalab ang damdamin ng bayan, sinasakyan ng detractors (Neither the president nor Malacañang had anything to do with this. If people are angry, it is because our detractors have been egging them on)," he said. Remonde said he found it "not surprising" that critics, including Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, criticize the administration at every opportunity. - GMANews.TV