Palace unfazed by Arroyo adviser's talk with SC chief

Malacañang has dismissed reports about a supposed meeting between the government’s national security adviser and the Supreme Court Chief Justice over a transition government that could be headed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, saying the official involved had no blessings from the Palace. Chief Justice Reynato Puno was reportedly met by Arroyo’s National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales on July 1 to seek his "feedback" on setting up a transition government. [See: SC exec: Arroyo adviser did rounds for transition govt] In a radio interview, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Palace officials had not authorized Gonzales to meet with Puno. "Well, ah, hindi kami na-alarma riyan. Medyo sanay kami riyan sa mga ganyang klaseng initiative ni Sec. Gonzales. (We are not alarmed over that. We are already used to those initiatives by Gonzales) These things he does, he does as National Security Adviser," Remonde said on government-run dzRB radio. "(On the meeting with Chief Justice Puno), I think that is between him and Gonzales, and Gonzales should be made to explain that," Remonde said. "Sec. Gonzales was doing that on his own, he did not have any authority from the Cabinet and the President in making representations." GMANews.TV's calls to Gonzales on his cellular phone on Saturday went unanswered. Puno's spokesman Jose Midas Marquez had said Gonzales "did the rounds" peddling his idea of a transition government and wanted to inform the Chief Justice about his views. The transition government would oversee the drafting of a new Constitution before the 2010 elections. The proposal of Gonzalez calls for the creation of a transition council that would draw up a new Charter by October this year, according to reports. Next year's May elections would also push through, but under the new constitution. The reports about Gonzales pushing for a transition government came amid claims by Mrs. Arroyo’s critics that she was planning to stay in power even after her term ends in June 2010. Marquez said Gonzales sought Puno’s “feedback" on the idea of setting up a transition government when they attended the 13th National Convention of the Philippine Association of Court Employees in Cebu last July 1. During their meeting, Puno advised Gonzales to take steps that would be in accordance with the rule of law and the Philippine Constitution, Marquez recalled. "The actions of Sec. Norberto Gonzales insofar as a transition council are entirely his own. He has no authority from the Cabinet or the President and therefore Sec. Gonzales lang maka-explain sa bagay na yan [therefore only Gonzales can explain his actions]," Remonde said. He added that Mrs. Arroyo had asked Gonzales to explain his reported meeting with Bishop Antonio Tobias over the transition government. Remonde said Gonzales denied meeting with Tobias, one of Mrs. Arroyo’s more vocal critics. Earlier, news reports quoted Tobias as saying that he also met with Gonzales, who allegedly told him that Mrs. Arroyo and Congress members would be included in the proposed revolutionary government. Tobias reportedly met with Gonzales and Undersecretary Milo Ibrado, deputy director general of the National Security Council, twice at the bishop's house in East Fairview, Quezon City. - GMANews.TV