Arroyo bats for parliamentary form of government

Despite growing criticism of the initiative, President Arroyo reiterated yesterday she will push to change the country’s form of government from presidential to a parliamentary and federal system.

"We shall push for a parliamentary and federal form of government because it will give peace, unity and progress to the average Filipino," Mrs. Arroyo said.

"Whatever the means eventually threshed out by Congress, this will be an integral part of my political platform of security," she said, reiterating her pledge to work for the amendment of the 1987 Constitution if she wins her own presidential term in the May elections.

Her statements on Charter change have sparked a debate with business groups rejecting a systemic change and congressional leaders saying they have more pressing issues to worry about than revising the Constitution to change the form of government.

There have been repeated congressional moves to amend the Constitution and install of a parliamentary government which supporters, led by Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., say will be more effective and responsive.

However, the efforts have also repeatedly been blocked by groups which fear that the amendments might be manipulated to extend the terms of office of elective officials.

While agreeing on the need to amend the country’s charter, Senate President Franklin Drilon and other senators said the amendments must be determined by an elective constitutional convention.

Citing the stiff resistance put up by the Senate, De Venecia said the House is now amenable to an elective constitutional convention instead of convening Congress into a constituent assembly for the purpose.

Early last week, De Venecia proposed that 215 constitutional convention delegates be elected during the May 10 elections.

Presidential Legislative Liaison Office head Secretary Gabriel Claudio said Mrs. Arroyo has reiterated that the Palace has resolved to leave the issue of how to effect constitutional changes to Congress. "We will leave that to the Senate and the House leaders to agree on a reasonable timetable to achieve a consensus on whether it can be done before the adjournment of Congress sine die," he said.

Claudio said the 12th Congress is set to adjourn sine die on June 10. "The question on whether they can form a consensus and pass the appropriate measure is for the leaders of both chambers to determine," Claudio said.

Drilon, for his part, said De Venecia’s proposal could not be made possible, citing time constraints. "The (legislative) timeline we are looking at is tough," Drilon said, adding that the Senate has other priorities, including the approval of the P864.8-billion 2004 national budget.

Drilon added that the Senate is scheduled to deliberate next week on the measure regulating optical media to strengthen the law against intellectual piracy.

"(And we must work on) the Securities Act to perk up the stock market, the pay for prosecutors to strengthen criminal justice system and the anti-terrorism bill," Drilon told ABS-CBN News Channel late Friday. – Ann Corvera, Perseus Echeminada