RP political parties call for constitutional change

RP political parties call for constitutional change

Teresa Cerojano, Associated Press/Manila

Ruling and moderate opposition parties agreed on Tuesday to work
immediately for constitutional revisions -- and possibly new
elections -- as part of efforts to solve a crisis over
allegations that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo rigged last
year's election.

A statement by leaders and representatives of at least 17
political parties -- including Arroyo's Lakas -- broadly
resembles a recent proposal by former President Fidel Ramos, who
came to Arroyo's help with a plan to swiftly change the
constitution and shift to a parliamentary system with new
elections next year.

Ramos' proposal rejects calls for Arroyo's resignation and
appears to give her some room to maneuver as she struggles to
regain credibility hurt by the electoral fraud allegations and
Cabinet resignations.

Last week, Ramos said his proposal was "a graceful exit
option" for Arroyo.

The political parties said at a conference that they "believe
the best solution to the present crisis is provided by the
present constitution" and opposed any extraconstitutional means
to end the turmoil.

They also urged "immediate revision of the constitution as the
proper and correct starting point to re-establish harmony and
stability of the nation."

Arroyo thanked the parties for the proposed reform, noting
that she has been advocating a shift to a parliamentary and
federal form of government as better suited for the Philippines
than the U.S.-style presidential system.

"I know this will be met with criticism for those who want me
to resign from office and short-cut the constitutional process,
but I'd like to appeal to them to listen to the voice of the law,
the fundamental law of the land," said Arroyo, whose term ends in
2010.

She said over the years, the country's political system has
"degenerated to a point that it needs fundamental change."

House Speaker Jose de Venecia, from Lakas party and chairman
of the conference, said the parties agreed to push for a
resolution to convene Congress into a constitution-drafting body
as soon as it reconvenes on July 25.

They also agreed to form a nine-member committee to consult
with various sectors and develop a new constitutional framework.

"We decided to move for the modernization of the political
parties, and of the civil service as a prelude to a major
campaign to shift to a parliamentary government," de Venecia told
a news conference attended by Arroyo.

The parties turned over a copy of their manifesto to Arroyo to
serve as input to her state of the nation address on July 25.

De Venecia told reporters the new constitution's provisions
would dictate whether Arroyo's term would be cut short and
elections held next year, as proposed by Ramos.

Signatories to the agreement included opposition Sen. Juan
Ponce Enrile, chairman of ousted President Joseph Estrada's
party, and Sen. Edgardo Angara, president of a faction of the
opposition LDP party. Both are identified with Estrada and
Arroyo's main challenger in the May 2004 ballot, the late
Fernando Poe Jr.

More hardline opposition leaders, who were not present at the
meeting, want the constitution amended through an elected
convention.