"No question about it. For the good of the nation, we can work with President Arroyo on economic programs and other reforms," House Minority Leader Carlos Padilla (LDP, Nueva Vizcaya) said yesterday.
Padilla said he has been authorized by Angara, who is abroad, to speak for the LDP on the call of Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. for Mrs. Arroyo to form a government of national unity.
He said the opposition welcomes De Venecia’s proposal and is willing to sit down with the administration on the parameters for a unity government.
"However, any talks should not involve the 2004 presidential elections, which should proceed as scheduled," Padilla stressed.
Some LDP leaders have expressed suspicions that the President’s decision to quit the presidential race in 2004 is related to proposals from her supporters to extend her term up to 2007 and to convert the present form of government to a unicameral parliamentary system.
Under such a scenario, Mrs. Arroyo can run for president or prime minister in 2007.
"We in the LDP will not accept that. We cannot have three more years of listlessness and lethargy," Padilla said.
De Venecia reiterated his unity government proposal shortly after the President announced that she is no longer running for president in 2004 and that her decision is final.
Members of the ruling Lakas lauded her for her decision, while her critics and many sectors of society expressed skepticism about it.
In a related development, Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo I (Lakas, Valenzuela) urged the President to tackle now the rising population growth problem along with economic issues.
"I think this is the root cause of all our problems. We will not be facing a huge budget deficit if there are not as many people needing infrastructure and social services. We should confront this problem now," he said.
He said Mrs. Arroyo should advocate population control and push for programs that would reduce population growth even if that would put her in conflict with the Catholic Church.
"She can now afford to displease church leaders because she’s not running in 2004. She can now make difficult and unpopular decisions," he stressed.