Drilon challenges Arroyo to stop Cha-cha moves
By MARTY GO, ABS-CBN Bacolod | 09/28/2008 4:51 PM
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Former Senate president Franklin Drilon on Sunday challenged President Arroyo not to make moves to extend her term or lift her term limits by amending the 1987 Constitution.
He also urged members of the Senate and the House of Representatives not to allow such constitutional amendments before the 2010 elections.
Drilon warned that Malacañang would only be using these amendments as an opportunity to extend the term of President Arroyo.
“Any move to amend the constitution between now and 2010 will be suspect that it is for the sole purpose of either extending the president’s term or removing terms limits and the people will not accept that,” Drilon said in a press conference in Bacolod City.
Drilon said he expects the issue of charter change to even reach the Supreme Court. He said that the Palace can take advantage of the situation where there are six seats for Justices which are expected to be vacant by 2009.
“The temptation to pack the court with partisan justices will be very tempting because of this issue of amendment to the Constitution,” he said.
Suspicion on proposed 2009 national budget
Drilon also said he suspects that some items in the 2009 General Appropriations Bill, which is now being discussed in the House, might be used by the President for her political allies.
Drilon alleged that the proposed P1.4 trillion budget for 2009 hides some P15 billion, or a little over 1 percent, that the President can use for “political purposes”.
He called on the people to be vigilant for any “sinister move” that the government might take before the elections in 2010.
