Palace frowns at transition government proposal

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has virtually thumbed down the transition government being proposed by National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales for 2010. In a press briefing Tuesday, presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio said that while they respect Gonzales’ views, he is on his own in his political advocacy for 2010. “His opinion, his pronouncements and his concepts about the presidency or a transition presidency is entirely his. This is something that I don’t think he has discussed with any member of the Cabinet much less with the President nor the leadership of the administration coalition," he said. He said as far as the administration coalition is concerned, they are preparing for the 2010 presidential election. Gonzales, in a statement released over the weekend, acknowledged that having a transition president in 2010 is a “radical" idea but stressed that it is constitutional. “The idea calls for the election in 2010, not designation now or later, of a transition president. That is why it is addressed both to those who want to contest the presidency in 2010 and to the electorate," he said. But Claudio said Gonzales should be more circumspect in assessing the possible effects of his statements and proposals to the administration. He also said Malacañang does not automatically support the stand of Cabinet members. - GMANews.TV