GMAS DECEPTION ON DROPPING OF
CHARTER CHANGE ASSAILED BY PIMENTEL

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyos attempt to resurrect the farcical Charter Change from the grave confirms the oppositions suspicion that she was deceiving the people when she declared a few days ago that the move to change the system of government was dead.

Pimentel said the Presidents urong-sulong (flip-flopping) attitude betrays her untrustworthiness and her determination to pursue Charter Change by hook or by crook as her ultimate political survival strategy.

It is precisely these forked-tongue messages that confuse the people and lead to the further erosion of what is left of the governments credibility, he said.

Pimentel said administrations Charter Change game-plan was further made evident by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermitas pronouncement that the campaign to amend the Constitution is likely to resume after the Christmas season.

As the alter ego of the President, Secretary Ermita who has been known for prudence, should be the last to roil the political waters even before the dust of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-led prayer rally has yet to settle in the Luneta Park, he said.

The minority leader said this turn of political events vindicates the senators position not to entertain the administrations challenge to act on the Constitutional Convention resolution after it dropped the discredited Constituent Assembly plan.

Unfortunate, but true. And more unfortunate still because Gloria is still there. She should resign now for the good of the people, Pimentel said.