GMA agrees to 2007 elections

President Arroyo has agreed to proposals to hold elections for a new parliamentary government in 2007 once a new Constitution is ratified next year by the people, a move that is seen to affect the remainder of her term until 2010.

A ranking Malacañang official said the President made the commitment to former President Fidel Ramos and Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. during a private meeting on Monday afternoon somewhere in Makati City.

The official, who was privy to the meeting, said it was hastily arranged by De Venecia and was held shortly after the President landed at the Villamor Air Base from a visit to Davao City after 3 p.m. Instead of going to Malacañang, Mrs. Arroyo’s convoy proceeded directly to the meeting, the source said.

"The President said she agreed to the holding of parliamentary elections in 2007 but the President would still finish her term until 2010," the official told The STAR on condition of anonymity.

The leaders, the official said, agreed that the sooner a shift in the form of government is implemented, the more politically and economically stable the country would be.

Ramos’ staff said the former president left yesterday morning for Taiwan. De Venecia could not be reached for comment as he is still in the provinces.

A ranking administration official confirmed that the meeting took place and said other matters, including issues affecting the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, were also discussed.

It was the first time that the President made a statement outlining a precise timetable for moves to amend the Constitution. She had previously skirted questions on cutting short her term by saying this is up to Congress to decide when it writes the transitory provisions.

Mrs. Arroyo’s decision to agree to parliamentary elections would have implications on her powers in the remainder of her term as the new members of parliament would have to elect a prime minister as head of government.

The move to have parliamentary elections in 2007 is a year longer than the timetable outlined by Ramos. His original proposal was to hold the elections by 2006 to give the embattled Mrs. Arroyo a "graceful exit."

Ramos, chairman emeritus of the Lakas-CMD, has repeatedly warned Mrs. Arroyo — who continues to fight off calls for her to resign — against reneging on her campaign promise to push for Charter change and shift the present form of government to a parliamentary system.

The President, who has survived an impeachment battle in Congress and remains the target of destabilization attempts by opposition members, repeatedly stressed there is an urgent need to change "the degenerated political system" that engenders destabilization and gridlocks between the Senate and the House of Representatives, and between the legislature and the executive branch.

She earlier said such gridlocks cause delays in the passage of legislation. She also cited the recent hospital detention of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales by the Senate as another reason to shift to a parliamentary system.

The President, in her State of the Nation Address last July 25, pushed for amendments to the Constitution through a constituent assembly where both houses of Congress would sit as one Charter-amending body.

Last September, Mrs. Arroyo formed the 55-man Consultative Commission to assist Congress in amending the Constitution. The body is expected to come up with a draft constitution by the end of the year.

De Venecia said the draft constitution would be ready for ratification by next year. He said senators who have terms until 2010 would automatically be members of the new parliament.

Elections now, please

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. pressed anew for the holding of a snap election and disputed the view of certain political quarters that the move would require an amendment to the Constitution.

Snap elections can be held if both Mrs. Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro will heed the political opposition’s call for them to resign, he said.

Pimentel claimed Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation would forestall a move by the public to resort to extrajudicial, possibly violent means of throwing her out of office.

In case of an Arroyo-De Castro resignation, Pimentel said Senate President Franklin Drilon would immediately assume office as acting president and call a snap election in 45 days.

"And therefore, the snap elections (are) the only feasible, constitutional and peaceful solution to the political crisis that has long been hounding our country," Pimentel said.

He said he is not interested in putting out an opposition candidate, and pointed out that Mrs. Arroyo is barred from running in the snap elections because the Constitution prohibits the incumbent president from running for a second term.

Mrs. Arroyo, who was elected vice president in 1998, assumed the presidency on Jan. 20, 2001 after then President Joseph Estrada was forced to step down in the aftermath of the EDSA People Power 2.

"Since Noli is not covered by the prohibition, he can run for president," Pimentel said, adding that the snap election will give the people the opportunity to elect a new president who can effectively run the nation.

He stressed that the snap election should be held immediately and not in 2007 as proposed by some Anti-Arroyo groups, particularly members of the so-called Black and White movement.

"It is important that we should take this action in order to prevent further deterioration of the situation in the country, economically, socially and politically," Pimentel said.

The snap election would also remove De Venecia and Ramos from the picture, according to Pimentel, who added that these two men should not be given a chance to maneuver and further prolong Mrs. Arroyo’s stay in power. — With Christina Mendez