PGMA remains supportive of Charter change moves -- Ermita

MANILA, Nov. 27 (PNA) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo remains a strong supporter of any moves to amend the 1987 Constitution, particularly on economic provisions and political structure.

Executive Eduardo Ermita, in his weekly press briefing in Malacanang today, said the President’s support for Charter change is “not something new” as amending the Constitution has been in her presidential campaign platform in 2004.

“It is something we are saying we are not totally averse to… What is important is the results of these efforts to amend the Constitution, without any effort from Malacanang to push for it,” Ermita said.

He said that for the country to move forward, “there is indeed a need to revisit the Constitution, especially the economic provisions.’’

He lamented, though, that the President’s critics have always linked any move to amend the Constitution to her desire to extend her term of office.

“Talks now must focus on the need to improve our economy and our political system by amending the Constitution,” he stressed.

The President made Charter change one of her key issues when she ran for president, mentioned it in three of her State-of-the Nation Addresses and has campaigned for amending the Constitution.

The President started to become more vocal about Charter change during her campaign for the presidency. Before she filed her certificate of candidacy, she announced that lobbying for a shift to a parliamentary and federal government is in her party’s campaign platform.

She told her supporters on Jan. 5, 2004: “We have made progress but we will need your support to get the job done for the fundamental change in our political system.”