MANILA, Philippines--El Shaddai Leader Mariano "Mike" Velarde said on Sunday he suggested to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that she abandon plans to amend the Constitution until after the end of her term in 2010, warning that to amend the country's charter now would be divisive.
"My position is always to have a constitutional convention in 2010 so that the issues can be extensively discussed," Velarde said in an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net).
"My advice was to postpone Cha-cha—it's very divisive—and to have Con-con by electing delegates during the elections. Let it go until 2010," he said.
Inspite of an upset stomach and fever last week, Arroyo joined 35,000 El Shaddai faithful during rain-drenched celebrations at the Quirino Grandstand on Saturday night, marking the 24th anniversary of the religious movement and Velarde's 69th birthday.
Siguro may kailangan si Gloria kay mike kaya pumunta. mukhang desperado.
The President had dinner and heard a 10 p.m. Mass with Velarde and his family. According to El Shaddai members, she stayed for about three hours. They also noted that it was her longest stay in the prayer-rally, as she usually only attended the mass.
The spiritual adviser to the President said he discussed with her moves to change the 1987 Constitution and proposals from administration allies in the House of Representatives to extend her term, which would end in 2010.
"spiritual adviser to the President" I wonder ano ang binibigay nyang advise? sigurado ako hindi tumatalab kay gloria
If the overhauling of the 1987 Charter were left to lawmakers, Velarde said it would not be representative of the people's wishes. He said he also expressed suspicions that some lawmakers would push for their own interests, referring to proposals to extend the terms of incumbent elected officials.
"Cha-cha will not solve our problems," Velarde stressed.
Should the proposal for a constitutional convention push through, Velarde said he "might consider" running for delegate. "I want a Charter that is really reflective of the people and suited for what we are today," he said.
Velarde, whose charismatic movement boasts of around five million members, said he expected moves in the House to amend the Charter would peter out. He said the proposal had many legal hurdles to overcome and that some senators opposed the measure.
He also told the President that tinkering with the Constitution to make way for the peace agreement between the government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would be a bad move for the country in the long run.
"What would stop other groups from calling for the same? It's a bad precedent," he said.
The President did not say anything about his advice, Velarde said. However, she explained that the idea to change the 1987 Constitution did not come from her but from the April resolution filed in the Senate by Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
"She was exploring the possibility of federalism under the proposal of Senator Pimentel," Velarde said.
Malacañang has announced support of Pimentel's federalism bill as it would allow the creation of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity envisioned in the draft memorandum of agreement with the MILF.
Velarde also noted that the President acknowledged that any plans to amend the Charter from the House would not succeed unless the Senate would support it.
As to proposals to extend the President's term beyond 2010, Velarde said he believed that it was not part of Arroyo's plans.
Velarde said the President asked for his support so that her projects would be completed before the end of her term. She did not ask for his support in her allies' campaign for Charter change and the reported extension of her term, Velarde stressed.
Ganon din yon...gago!
"I am confident and I have no doubts that she will end her term in 2010," he said.
wanna bet? kiss my puwet!
He admitted that there would always be suspicions over Arroyo's declarations because she broke her promise not to run in the 2004 elections, but that he was praying that she would stand by her word to step aside come 2010.
talaga lang ha
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