Palace: GMA still undecided on scrapping 2007 polls

Malacañang clarified yesterday that President Arroyo has not taken any position over the controversial proposal of the presidential consultative commission (con-com) to scrap the 2007 midterm elections to extend the terms of elected officials.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the President has yet to make an official stand over the proposal.

At the same time, Ermita scoffed at allegations that Mrs. Arroyo and her political allies are pushing for the scrapping of the 2007 polls to avoid a shameful defeat to the political opposition.

"That (allegation) is too much and totally unfounded," Ermita told The STAR.

"Are they saying that we, in the majority, in the ruling party Lakas (Christian and Muslim Democrats) are afraid of the opposition?" he asked.

Ermita said the claims can be interpreted as efforts of the opposition to boost their own morale in the wake of their failure to impeach Mrs. Arroyo and the futility of their cause.

The other day, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. claimed the President and her allies were exerting all efforts to scrap the 2007 midterm elections to extend the terms of all elected officials as part of their ploy to hold on to power.

Pimentel cited the results of the recent opinion surveys showing the negative 30-percent approval rating of the President. He said the administration is well aware of the possibility of defeat in the 2007 elections.

Ermita pointed out Mrs. Arroyo has no position on the con-com.

He said the recommendation made by con-com in scrapping the 2007 elections is just part of the issue of Charter change.

"Amending our Constitution for much-needed political reforms, particularly the shift to a unicameral parliamentary system, is the main issue," Ermita said.

"We must not lose sight of it. The con-com recommendation would still have to be debated," he said.

Ermita reminded the President herself called for the "great debate" on Charter change to begin in her State of the Nation Address last July 25.

At the same time, Ermita made an appeal to the public and political leaders to allow the con-com to prove its worth and respect the 55 commissioners who made the proposal.

Ermita pointed out the con-com is composed of credible and respected lawyers, academicians, business leaders, labor leaders and other experts, who have remained independent of Malacañang.

"The con-com members, led by Dr. Jose Abueva, Atty. (Romela) Bengzon, (STAR columnists) Jarius Bondoc, Carmen Pedrosa, former senator Vicente Paterno, former (Cebu) governor Pablo Garcia, (former congressmen) Sergio Apostol, Gerry Espina... and all the others, did their very best," Ermita said.

Ermita said the public and political leaders should never "undervalue" the efforts of the con-com that conducted nationwide consultations over the issue of Charter change.

"And the fact that the voting (on the proposal to scrap the 2007 elections) was slim only showed that they were all independent-minded and their work was not politically-charged," he said.

Ermita said Mrs. Arroyo did not even comment or modify the report out of respect to the independence of the commission she had created through an executive order last September.