ROXAS TO MALACAÑANG ALLIES: HEED THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today appealed to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her allies in the House of Representatives to listen to the sentiment of majority of Filipinos against extending term limits through amendments to the Constitution.

Otherwise, the Palace and its allies will face the full wrath of the people if they see a deliberate move on President Arroyo's part and her political supporters in Congress to ram through constitutional change before the elections in 2010.

Roxas said he and the Liberal Party will join the rest of the people, whose overwhelming opposition to Charter change or Cha-Cha is reflected in the latest findings of the Social Weather Stations.

"Gagawin ko ang lahat para harangin ang Cha-Cha (I will do everything to thwart the Cha-Cha)," he said.

"Nananawagan ako sa mga kakampi ng Palasyo sa Mababang Kapulungan na pakinggan ang sentimyento ng nakararaming Pilipino laban sa pagpapalawig sa pamahalaan ni Ginang Arroyo (I appeal to Palace patrons in the House of Representatives to listen to the voice of majority of Filipinos against prolonging the administration of Mrs. Arroyo)," he added.

The SWS survey showed that 64% of respondents were against extending President Arroyo's term. Only 15% were in favor while 21% said they were undecided.

The SWS survey showed that the rejection of removing term limits, including those for the Vice-President and members of Congress, extended to all areas and classes nationwide.

In Metro Manila, 78% rebuffed Charter change that would allow Mrs. Arroyo to extend her term, followed by the Visayas (70%), the rest of Luzon (62%), and Mindanao (54%). By class, the same sentiment was noted among 67% of those in the ABC segment, 66% in class E, and 63% in class D.

About three in every five respondents or 63% said the current term for Philippine presidents was "just right as of now." Under the Constitution, presidents of the country serve a six-year term and are not eligible for re-election.

The SWS used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide. The sampling error margins were 3% for national and 6% for area percentages.

Roxas reiterated that any changes in the Constitution should be done through a constitutional convention in 2010 so amendments could take effect after the present administration.