Arroyo doubts shift to federalism can be done

August 16, 2018

Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday said she will facilitate discussions on Charter Change at the House of Representatives once Congress sit as a constituent assembly.

Arroyo doubted that the proposed shift to a federal form of  government will materialize during her term as speaker. She is on her last term as Pampanga representative.

"It might not probably be completed in my remaining time in office, especially there will still be a plebiscite," Arroyo said in an interview at ANC.   "But I hope to move it forward as far as I can during my time as Speaker.  And so I hope that those who follow after will pick up from where we left off in this Congress," the former president added.

Arroyo downplayed speculation she will become prime minister under the new federal system.

She said the draft federal constitution submitted by the Consultative  Commission  to the President and lawmakers has advocated apresidential system of government.

"So there is no Prime Minister to speak of," said Arroyo.

Arroyo said she opposed term extensions for elected officials as well as cancellation of May 2019 elections-- advocacies that had been pushed by her predecessor, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

Arroyo said the issue on voting separately to begin rewriting the 1987 Constitution remains an issue which has been discussed with senators.

Earlier, the House leadership adopted House Resolution 2056 authored by Arroyo, where the Pampanga lawmaker said: “There is an urgent need to convene the Senate and the House of Representatives as Constituent Assembly in order to consider the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution.” DMS