An administration congressman revealed Friday that majority members of the House of Representatives intend to go to the Supreme Court after gathering the needed number of signatures for a Charter change (Cha-cha) resolution that is being circulated among lawmakers.

“Paano ito kung puro tayo satsatan dito, eh di pirmahan tayo at dalhin sa Supreme Court para magkaalaman (What will happen if we're all talk? Let’s sign [the resolution] and bring it to the Supreme Court).”

Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor told radio dzMM that this was the agreement of congressmen who have been discussing Charter change for the past few months.

Defensor, however, immediately clarified that majority of the congressmen who support Cha-cha want the changes in the Constitution to take effect after 2010.

He said it would be “immoral” for incumbent congressmen to suggest something that would benefit them.

“Napaka-imoral noon (It would be very immoral). They (Filipinos) know they elected the President for a period of six years only. I think that should take effect after 2010,” Defensor said.

The congressman also confirmed that Cha-cha was among the topics of discussion of the congressmen who recently attended the birthday party of Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez at the family home in Makati City.

Defensor said President Arroyo also attended the party, but clarified that she was not involved in the discussion.

He said the President arrived late and did not talk much during the party.

“Na-late ng dating si Presidente. Hindi nagsalita si Presidente (The President was late. She did not talk),” the congressman insisted.

There were reports that Mrs. Arroyo’s allies in Congress, led by his son, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo, have already gathered at least 163 signatures for the Cha-cha resolution.

Reports said Mrs. Arroyo’s son had been approaching congressmen to sign the resolution, which the presidential son denied.

There were also reports that Romualdez was the one circulating the resolution.

The Cha-cha movers in the House only need 178 signatures to get three-fourths of the 238 members.

Malacañang-controlled SC?

Civil society groups, meanwhile, have launched efforts to monitor the ongoing selection of candidates for the upcoming vacancies at the Supreme ourt.

Seven justices are due to retire in 2009. All of their replacements will be appointed by Mrs. Arroyo.

Some sectors said the seven vacancies will open opportunities for the administration to push Cha-cha and possibly, extend the term of the president beyond 2010.

Not true, says Ermita

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, meanwhile, rejected reports that the administration is cooking up another attempt to amend the Constitution to allow a term extension for the President.

"[The] issue of Cha-cha (Charter change) is hardly being discussed by anybody and I suppose I’m close enough to the President to share what her thoughts are [on Cha-cha but nothing has been discussed about it]," said Ermita during his weekly press conference.

Ermita's statement came after Press Secretary Jesus Dureza apologized for a prayer that wished for, among others, more years for Mrs. Arroyo in Malacañang.

“It was a mistake on my part to subject the President to such underserved flak,” Dureza said.

The President's spokesman said he apologized to the President after the media reported that the prayer done before a Cabinet meeting resulted in a spin for term extension.

“I take full responsibility and own up solely to the blame,” Dureza said.

But while Ermita and Dureza denied talk of possible term extension for the President, her allies in the House of Representatives have started efforts that would convene Congress into a constituent assembly.

Reports on Thursday said that several resolutions calling for Charter change are pending in the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments. Congressional sources, meanwhile, said a new resolution is making the rounds.