I don't get it anymore. I am having a hard time figuring out the president's next move and what would be her next declarations come tomorrow and election period. Plans on running for a congressional seat arises along with more speculations of Mrs. Arroyo's plan on grasping the country's leadership seat with a title as Prime Minister. Of course that is so not good for us, regular citizens of this declining nation. But actually, reading the papers today make me rack my brain a lot more, with two sides bearing explanations on the possible outcome regarding Mrs. Arroyo's Congressional plan.

At one point, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said that continues derailing of this plan would mean abandoning the Presidency for Mrs. Arroyo. He said that if Mrs. Arroyo would file her certificate of candidacy, she would have to relinquish her hold on the presidency which means that Vice President Noli De Castro would take charge during the remaining months of GMA's original term. Enrile insisted that "Mrs. Arroyo is deemed resigned once she files her candidacy." And so this is where would come the other side of the issue. Enrile's statement contradicts COMELEC Chairman Jose Melo and Mrs. Arroyo's election lawyer Romulo Macalintal's opinion on the matter. Confident in saying there is nothing in the law which requires Mrs. Arroyo to resign if she runs for a Congressional seat, they don't think the matter is unconstitutional. Opposing these pronouncements, Enrile warns the seriousness of the matter when the president decides to file her candidacy on or before the 30th this November since prudence dictates that Mrs. Arroyo should finish her mandate until June 30 next year.

This Congressional plan of Mrs. Arroyo seems to be a foolish tactic. While others may be seeing it as one of the many diversional tactics set by Arroyo's Team averting the public's eye on the matter of Charter Change, i still think that they consider it as an option. Ojectively, it is definitely a good plan. However, considering the constitutionality of it, I guess I have to agree with Senate President Enrile's warnings on the irregularity of this. Imagine a president running for a lower position. Obviously, how do you think her opponent would fare on this? A president versus a local politician? Melo and Macalintal kept insisting that there is no direct law existing that would subject the president into an obstacle barring Mrs. Arroyo on pursuing lower electoral position(s). Well here my answer: probably that is why there are no direct law yet that would prevent a president in running for lower office since it looks foolish and stupid and no one thought that anyone would go beyond that low point! Interpreting the constitution in an intelligent way, the part which states that a president could not pursue a re-election covers this issue. While you are a president - meaning a country's top most leader, you have the immense power which could benefit you better than any candidate, whereas even a 7 year old child would call it unfair. This of course defies the democratic essence of elections.

Labels: charter change, con-ass, constituent assembly, gloria arroyo seeks congressional seat