GMA challenged to state she is not for term extension

Former Senate President Franklin Drilon Sunday night challenged President Arroyo to categorically state that she is against an extension of her term under an amended Constitution and to the term limits on elected officials in the 12 months leading to the 2010 polls.

But Drilon also hit the nail on the head when he also asked Vice President Noli de Castro and both Senate President Manuel Villar and Speaker Prospero Nograles to declare that they will oppose any move to amend the Constitution before 2010.

“That will be the only way people can be comfortable,” said Drilon during a press conference at the Bacolod Pavilion Hotel.

Drilon, who is chairman of the Liberal Party was in Bacolod for the induction of the officers and members of the Rotary Club of Bacolod led by its president Jesus Hinlo Jr.

Any move to amend the Constitution before 2010, Drilon said, could be perceived as an attempt to extend the President’s stay in power. Hence, his challenge also included De Castro, Nograles and Villar.

He also said the plan calls to make the Senate irrelevant in the amendment process of the Constitution.

He proposed that the issue of whether the two chambers should vote separately or jointly when they convene into a constituent assembly should be brought to the Supreme Court in January.

Drilon also challenged media to be vigilant pointing out that it is up for them to warn the people against any sinister move to amend the Constitution.

The former Senate head also blasted what he called a P13-billion pork barrel allocation in the 2009 budget for the President. This was reportedly inserted into the social service sector outlay.

“It is like writing a blank check in favor of the President,” Drilon stressed.

These included the following: P4.2-billion for the Malusog ng Simula, Yaman ng Bansa Nutrition Program; Pangtawid Pamilya Pilipino Program – P5-billion; P1 billion for a National Targeting System; P1-billion for the Kalayaan Barangay Program Fund; P1-billion for the Kilos Asenso Support Fund and P2.8-billion for the Calamity and Contingent Fund of the President as well as P375-million for the core shelter program.

Drilon added that the agriculture department is allocated P7-billion for the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani which includes P3.3-billion for the fertilizer program.

There is also the P4.3 billion for farm to market roads, P12-billion for the irrigation and P9-billion more for seeds.

These kind of budgeting, he said, should not be continued. The issue is transparency and accountability. Accountability become very difficult especially considering that 2010 is an election year.

There was no doubt in the minds of the listeners that Drilon’s revelations were the opening salvo in the hard-hitting presidential polls for next year.

Arroyo visit to Bacolod

When she comes to open the Masskara Festival of Bacolod City tomorrow, President Arroyo may actually have her hands full trying to cope with several major issues that are intended to be presented to her to untangle.

Of course it is expected that she may have to answer LP head Frank Drilon to his charges against the extension of the presidential term through the amendment of the Constitution and the other issues of lump sum appropriations the former Senate head had unleashed Saturday and Sunday against her.

The most ticklish will be the position by sugar cooperatives’ members and officers seeking the suspension of the advanced Value Added Tax collection on refined sugar by the BIR.

Fr. Armando Onion, chairman of the Ma-ao Parish Multipurpose Cooperative, said he hopes the President will have time to listen to their plight as she is the only one who can provide quick solution so the sugar cooperative can sell their refined sugar.

But there was also twist to the entire issue. This was highlighted by board member Nehemias de la Cruz when he asked Zenia Astorga, former head of the BIR’s special Regional Task Force on Sugar, why she used to collect the advance VAT for the BIR on the sugar coops even recommended the increase of the amount to be charged was now the one on the other side of the law.

Astorga is now consultant of the sugar cooperatives and has raised the question of the legality of levy on the sugar cooperatives.

Well, that’s something that the President is sure to address decisively as she is also exacted to be presented by sugar leaders with the issue of maintaining the current 38 tariff on imported sugar and to present to the AFTA Trade Council the raising of sugar from the sensitive to the highly sensitive list in sugar classification.

Yhids is considered crucial because sugar leaders believe that if the tariff is allowed to decrease to only 28 percent by next year and 0-5 percent by 2010, this could bring about the collapse of the industry. This is one that can’t wait much longer and the President is expected to give the go-signal to the Trade and Industry Department to present the Philippine position before the AFTA Council.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and the Sugar Regulatory Administration had already endorsed the proposal to the Tariff Commission and the DTI, according to Confed trustee Bernard Trebol and Federico Locsin III, national president of the Confederation of Sugar Producers’ Association. It also was endorsed by members of the Sugar Alliance which represent the five-million sugar workers and the country’s su­gar farmers.