Arroyo may opt to extend term, former allies warn

MANILA, Philippines – A group of former senior government officials (FSGO) on Monday warned that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo may prolong her stay in Malacañang beyond 2010. In her report on QTV’s Balitanghali, GMA News’ Sandra Aguinaldo said the FSGO believes that President Arroyo may not be telling the truth when she said she intends to bow out of office when her term expires. The report also quoted Teresita Deles, President Arroyo’s former chief peace adviser, as saying that through term extension, the President may be buying herself immunity from the allegations thrown at her. In the recent years, President Arroyo and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, had been hounded by controversies such as the “Hello, Garci" election rigging scandal, the $329-million NBN-ZTE broadband deal mess, the P728-million fertilizer fund scam, and more recently, the alleged collusion and bribery surrounding World Bank-funded projects. President Arroyo and the First Gentleman have repeatedly denied, or had been repeatedly cleared by other individuals of any involvement in the said controversies. In the television report, the FSGO also said that President Arroyo’s allies at the House of Representatives may be clandestinely railroading the Charter change (Chacha) train in a bid to amend the constitutional provision on term limits for Philippine presidents. The FSGO also said chided the Arroyo administration for stonewalling and for its lack of effort in addressing the said scandals. As of this posting, GMANews.TV is trying to contact Malacañang representatives for comments but they have yet to answer the calls. - GMANews.TV