LEGAZPI CITY, June 12 (PNA) - Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile has defended President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on the issue of Charter Change (Cha-Cha) being pushed by the House of Representatives.
"To be fair to the President, she has nothing to do with the Cha-Cha because I would have known if she really wanted to push to amend the Constitution," Enrile said here after leading activities marking the 111th Independence Day.
He stressed to local media here that the Palace is not behind the House of Representative's action to change the Charter.
Enrile also denied reports that one of the key players of Cha-Cha is the First Gentleman. "I don't even know that Mr. Arroyo is also spearheading the Cha-cha in order to extend the term of his wife, the President or to make her a Prime Minister," he said.
As far as I know, Enrile added, she (President Arroyo) has nothing to do with the Charter change. "She has no single hint to the Senate because I've met her several times this week during the Legislative Executive Development Council meeting in Malacañang and she never discussed the Constitutional amendment."
"The President talked about taxes and other developmental concerns for the country," Enrile added.
The Senate president admitted that he is personally in favor of amending the Constitution. "But it can only be done after 2010 and through a constitutional convention."