Drilon: GMA aide can’t influence us on Cha-cha

Senators won’t listen to Presidential Adviser for Special Concerns Norberto Gonzales on the controversial issue of Cha-cha (Charter change), Senate President Franklin Drilon said yesterday.

"Who is he? We don’t know him. He cannot influence us," Drilon said when asked about reports that the presidential adviser has been tasked by Malacañang to concentrate on pushing for Cha-cha.

The Palace has apparently drafted a blueprint for amending the Constitution since Gonzales has been talking about a transition to a parliamentary system. President Arroyo would still be head of government during the transition.

Talk about the envisioned crossover to a new political system has prompted Sen. Joker Arroyo to accuse the President of wanting to extend her term, which ends in June next year.

But according to Gonzales, the plan is for Mrs. Arroyo to run next year and cut her six-year term to preside over the transition to the parliamentary form of government.

Asked what Mrs. Arroyo’s adviser is talking about, Drilon said, "I don’t know, this is the first time I’m hearing this."

He said what he knows is that the Senate is not disposed at this time to agree to Cha-cha.

This means that "this guy Gonzales is just dreaming," he added.

Keeping up his assault on Malacañang’s plan for a "transition government," Senator Arroyo said yesterday the incentive for members of Congress and other incumbent officials, including governors and mayors, would be the extension of their terms.

He said the ones who will mind the store during the transition would naturally be the sitting or incumbent officials.

"Very neat, very simple, very attractive to senators and congressmen. May utang na loob pa ang taong bayan (And the people will even be grateful). The words extension or terms will not be used, but the effect is precisely that – the extension of their terms. Every incumbent elective official will be titillated happy," Arroyo stressed.