Former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is now Pampanga representative, drew the support of her remaining allies in Congress in her bid to change the Philippines' 1987 Constitution. Critics fear that the move would include a change in the form of government from presidential to parliamentary in bid to make her prime minister. Although they're now the minority in the House of Representatives, Arroyo and her allies vowed to push for the approval of a resolution filed by Arroyo herself and her son Camarines Representative Diosdado “Dato” Macapagal Arroyo. Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong vowed to support Arroyo's resolution, saying he has been pushing for constitutional changes since 1993 which, he said, are needed to clarify many confusing provisions in the Constitution. Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said some economic provisions of the Constitution need to be amended.“I am amenable to change certain provisions in the Constitution because some (provisions) need to be analyzed especially in the proposed acquisition of real property in our country of foreign individuals and corporations,” he said. Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr. said he also supports the plan and will soon file a bill calling for a constitutional convention.”I personally believe that there is really a need to take a look at the 1987 Constitution. During the 14th Congress, the opposition is saying that any charter change should be made after Arroyo's term. I do not see the reason about all this fuss about Arroyo's resolution,” he said. Datumanong, Suarez and Barzaga are members of the Arroyo-led Lakas Kampi CMD party, which is now the new minority in the 15th Congress. However, the majority Liberal Party (LP) of President Benigno Aquino III said they remained opposed to Charter change, adding that they expect Arroyo's bid to tinker with the Constitution to eventually collapse. Quezon LP Rep. Lorenzo Tanada III said Arroyo's party does not have the number in the House to push for the former president's resolution, noting that any bill needs two-thirds of the House vote or about 192 lawmakers for it to prosper. “They can support. But it's not going to be a walk in the park,” he said. The anti-charter change mood also remains strong in the Senate, with nearly all senators – both administration and opposition -- against the proposal. Opposition Senator Pia Cayetano blasted Arroyo's charter-change bid, saying it smacks of bad taste. “When she was still in Malacanang, Mrs. Arroyo had always been viewed as supporting charter-change in order to perpetuate herself in power. Her first resolution appears to validate her real motive for seeking a House seat. But I am hopeful that the majority of House members will resist this proposal,” she said in a statement. Father Joaquin Bernas, one of the authors of the 1987 Constitution, also expressed his disdain at Arroyo's move, saying he finds it “humorous” for the former president to initiate a move to change the Constitution. “What is she out to prove?” he asked. Bernas, however, conceded that the 1987 Constitution is not perfect, adding that the provisions on the party-list system and the appointment of Supreme Court justices need to be amended. But he insisted that the Philippines should stick with a presidential form of government. For his part, Ramon Casiple, executive director, Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms, said Arroyo was just “testing the waters.” “Her proposal to change the Constitution could be a rallying point for congressmen who will not get positions under the LP-led House leadership.” Critics claimed that Arroyo's primary objective in pushing for a shift from a democratic to a parliamentary form of government is to be elected prime minister eventually, thus regaining power.
