Copyrighted 2009
Arroyo assures 'there will be polls in 2010'
MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday assured the public that elections will push through in May 2010 as a new opinion poll showed that opposition to charter change has climbed from 64% in October 2008 to 70% in June 2009.
"In no uncertain terms...There will be elections in 2010," Mrs. Arroyo told reporters at a press briefing in Davao.
"Anybody who questions our reforms on this critical issue is undermining our country’s commitment to a vibrant democracy," she added, citing her administration's efforts to implement poll automation.
Mrs. Arroyo was apparently referring to comments made on Thursday by former President Fidel V. Ramos that she must step down in 2010.
In a forum with six presidential aspirants for 2010, Ramos reminded Mrs. Arroyo that "you cannot stay at the top forever."
“Going up to the summit is optional. But coming down is mandatory,” he said.
Obviously referring to President Arroyo, whom he has criticized for the Charter change efforts of her allies in Congress, he said, in jest, “Bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan huwag magalit (Those who feel alluded to should not get angry).”
70% vs Cha-cha
Meanwhile, 70% of adult Filipinos were against charter change that would allow President Arroyo to “continue as chief official of the Philippines after 2010,” according to a recent opinion poll.
This came out in a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted June 19 to 22 using face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults nationwide.
The SWS released the survey results on Friday.
The survey also showed an increase in public opposition to charter change—from 64% in October 2008 to 66% in February 2009 to 70% in June 2009.
Respondents were asked: “Are you for or against a Charter change that will allow President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to still be the chief official of the Philippines after June 30, 2010?”
Opposition was high in all socio-economic classes: disagreement to the question was 73% in ABC, 73% in D, and 62% in E.
In addition, the survey also showed that 55% believe that President Arroyo “is behind the current effort to amend the Constitution in order to extend her term.”
The ruling coalition has filed last month a resolution in the House of Representatives seeking to convene a constituent assembly that will change the 1987 Constitution.
The SWS survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3%.
