‘No-el’ highly divisive — lawmaker

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Pampanga third district Rep. Reynaldo Aquino said the proposed postponement of the 2007 elections is highly divisive and could aggravate the country’s political stability.

Aquino, who belongs to the ruling Lakas-CMD (Christian, Muslim Democrats) party, earlier called for the scrapping of the "no-el (no elections)" proposal, which was among the recommendations of the Consultative Commission (Con-com) to President Arroyo.

Aquino said the proposal could fuel political instability and erode whatever political and economic gains the country has achieved in the last few months.

He said most of his constituents in Pampanga’s third district prefer the holding of the 2007 elections since these concern local officials.

He said most of the people he has talked to would rather elect their local officials first before any change in the form of government is made. 

For Aquino, local governance will be bolstered by a shift from a presidential to a parliamentary and federal form of government.

"Over the long term, I see the shift as a boon to local autonomy. (It will help) local governance and basically (bring) speedier reforms and progress in the countryside and greater progress and stability for the country," he said.

However, he said most Filipinos prefer the holding of the 2007 elections before that transition is made. — Ric Sapnu