Manila archbishop wants elections held on 2010

MANILA, Philippines – Amid speculations that Malacañang is cooking up a “no-election" scenario in 2010, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales on Thursday said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will likely step down from office when her term expires.

Radio dzBB’s Teresa Tavares quoted Rosales as saying that the public will not allow efforts to prolong the President’s tenure to gather momentum.

At least 167 members of the House of Representatives have so far expressed their support for a resolution seeking to convene Congress into a constituent assembly for the purpose of rewriting the Philippine Constitution

Critics fear that tinkering with the Constitution at this time, especially through a constituent assembly, could lead incumbent congressmen to remove limits to their term of office and allow President Arroyo to remain in power beyond 2010.

Malacañang, however, assured that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will step down in 2010 as mandated by the 1987 Constitution.

The report added that Rosales wants the 2010 national polls to push through “to replace politicians who do not deserve to be elected."

Rosales had earlier joined the ranks of those critical of politicians. Last week, the Manila archbishop said the "ignorant poor" are always taken advantaged of by self-serving government officials.

“What a pitiful situation it is when the persons who are ignorant of their rights are also poor, and are left in that state of not knowing the truth. Some are ignorant of their rights and privileges and no one dares to help them," Rosales said. gmanews.tv