Palace exec: Cha-cha not a priority of Aquino admin

(Updated 5:18 p.m) Even though one of the President's allies is pushing for Charter change, it is not a priority of the administration of President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III, a Palace official said on Monday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said while Aquino remains open to Charter change, he does not see an urgent need to give priority to amending the 1987 Philippine Constitution. "At this point, nobody has ever presented an argument that would make Cha-cha urgent so much so that it would place the country at risk if the Constitution at the present time is not changed. So it's not a priority," Valte said at a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday. The Palace official made the statement after a member of Aquino's Liberal Party (LP), Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, said over the weekend that now is the best time for Charter change debates because Aquino has vowed not to run for any elective post in 2016. "With PNoy's declaration that he will not run for public office in 2016, I think this is the best time to start the national debate on Cha-cha," said Evardone, previously a member of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Lakas-Kampi CMD party. "All present members of Congress, Senate, and LGUs (local government units) should not benefit from Cha-cha, particularly extension of terms. Con-con (Constitutional convention) should be the mode so as not to disrupt the legislative work of Congress," the congressman added. During the campaign period, Aquino declared that he is not closing the doors on Charter change, saying he would form a commission to determine whether it was really necessary to amend the 1987 Constitution. He said the commission would also identify the method that should be used to amend the Constitution. On Monday, Valte said there are no plans yet to form the Charter change commission. "We believe that there are more pressing concerns that should be addressed before this (Charter change)," she said. Charter change was one of the most controversial issues during the nine-year presidency of Arroyo, who is now the congressional representative of Pampanga's second district. Her allies in the 14th Congress attempted to amend the 1987 Constitution through various legislation — giving rise to speculations that she allegedly wants to change the Charter to enable herself to remain in power. As congresswoman, Arroyo's first House resolution sought the amendment of the Charter through a constitutional convention. It was co-authored by her son, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado "Dato" Arroyo. – VVP, GMANews.TV