PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE — SPEAKER Prospero “Boy” Nograles Jr. yesterday assured the public that congressmen can stick to their promise that their would be no term-extension of elected officials in efforts to push Charter change (Cha-cha), adding that President Arroyo cannot run as prime minister because there was no any pending proposal calling for the shift to parliamentary system.
During the weekly Ayes and Nays News Forum, Nograles said any move to extend the term of elected officials will not succeed.
“May prinsipyo rin naman ang mga congressmen, kapag nagbitaw ng salita, we hold on to our words na walang term extension,” said Nograles.
“To those who keep on injecting term extension, tigilan na nila at walang mangyayari diyan,” Nograles added.
Since there was no proposal for the shift of presidential to parliamentary form of government, Nograles explained that President Arroyo has no opportunity to become prime minister.
“That (President running as prime minister) is technically correct if we convert Congress and change into parliamentary but no proposal yet and it’s too late to change the form of government now kasi everybody is into presidential mode,” said Nograles.
After adjourning the Second Regular Session sine die on June 3 without passing House Resolution (HR) No. 1109 or the resolution of Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte and Nograles Jr. for Con-Ass, La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments, stressed that there is no other option but to push Constitutional Convention (Con-con).
Nograles explained that all they want is for the Supreme Court (SC) to decide how ConAss will be carried in Congress.