Malacaņang urged today some members of Congress to
stop grandstanding and instead focus their attention on the cores issues of the
Consultative Commission’s (ConCom) recommendations on Charter amendments.
Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio
R. Bunye said that instead of grandstanding on the ConCom’s recommendations,
concerned lawmakers should concentrate on the key proposals put forward by the 54-member
commission.
"We ask our concerned lawmakers to refrain
from grandstanding on the recommendations of the ConCom and maligning the eminent body and
debate instead on the core issues at hand to enable our country to move forward and cope
with the changing world around us," Bunye said.
Some members of Congress have accused ConCom
members, who opted for the cancellation of the 2007 elections and the extension of the
current terms of office of elective officials to 2010 under the proposed revised
Constitution, of allegedly following a Malacanang script.
This accusation has been roundly rejected by
Malacanang, which pointed out that at no time had it interfered with the work of the
commission.
"The dissenting opinion from a minority of
the Consultative Commission is a clear manifestation of full democratic deliberations and
refutes all insinuations that the commissioners were handpicked to serve the interest of
the President or the administration," Bunye said.
Earlier, he called on the country’s political
leaders, "especially those who do not agree with the recommendations of the ConCom,
to come out with alternative proposals for Charter change."
