Palace not bothered by FVR remarks - Claudio

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang was not at all offended by former President Fidel V. Ramos' statement during a presidential aspirants' forum Thursday that those in power should step down in time, Palace officials said Friday. Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio, who was present at the 10th Ramos Peace and Development Foundation public lecture series attended by six presidential hopefuls, brushed off interpretations that Ramos was alluding to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo when he said that someone in power "cannot stay at the top forever." "The Palace is not offended by FVR's statement nor does it consider PGMA [President Arroyo's initials] as having been alluded to," Claudio said in a text message to GMANews.TV. "We'd like to think FVR's remarks were not necessarily in reference to PGMA. He may well have been offering his advice and admonition to politicians in general and the six presidentiables present in particular. The axiom also applies not only to politics but to many other aspects and endeavors in life," he added. Critics of President Arroyo are accusing her of trying to prolong her stay in power due to efforts by her allies in the House of Representatives to amend the 1987 Constitution. She is also rumored to be eyeing a congressional seat in Pampanga after her presidential term, a speculation that she has not dismissed outright in public. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde quelled fears that President Arroyo will not step down in 2010. "Our reaction [to FVR's remarks] is in the statement of PGMA in Davao that definitely there will be elections in 2010," he told GMANews.TV in a text message. President Arroyo, who has just returned from Egypt, is currently in Mindanao where she will preside over an anti-terrorism meeting with top government officials in Cotabato City. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV