MANILA, Philippines Senator Francis Pangilinan on Tuesday said the Arroyo administration must back off from pushing for a constitutional amendment as it may
trigger public indignation.
In a statement, Pangilinan said President Arroyo should remember the negative feedback from the public when she rallied for charter change last year.
They will only be courting public outrage if they insist on Cha-Cha during (this current political situation). The administration should back off, he said.
Pangilinan said any move to amend the Constitution by the administration will always be linked to a possible term extension of President Arroyo.
When the Cha-Cha process begins, anything and everything in the charter can be tinkered with including term extension for the Arroyo administration," he said.
He stressed that any charter change should be done after the 2010 elections and that he will strongly oppose any effort by the administration to amend the Constitution before President Arroyo's term expires in 2010.
In a lunch meeting with Switzerland President Paschal Couchepin Monday, President Arroyo reiterated the need to turn the Philippines into a federal state to pave the way for a peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Pangilinan, however, rejected the proposal for a constitutional amendment to bring about the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE).
He also said those who are urging the President are only doing the country a great disservice. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV