The Lakas-CMD national directorate Saturday night agreed to fast track the passage of Charter change and support President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in fulfilling her constitutional mandate to serve office until 2010, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella said yesterday.

Puentevella said former President Fidel Ramos who attended the national directorate meeting held at Malacañang, attended by 120 Lakas-CMD national and regional officers and stalwarts, agreed to abide by the decision of the party.

Ramos was earlier quoted as saying that Arroyo should end her term by 2007.

Puentevella said the party's goal is to have Charter changes in place by the middle of the year that will allow for a plebiscite in June on the proposed amendments.

Among the proposed questions to be asked in the plebiscite will be whether the people would like to have the parliamentary elections in 2007 or 2010, he said.

Speaker Jose de Venecia's seven-point proposal for Charter change include the transformation to a parliamentary form of government, the establishment of a unicameral legislature, providing for a 5-year term of office for elective officials, a ban on political turncoatism, creation of autonomous regions towards the establishment of a federal system, and easing of restrictions of foreign investments in the economy, Puetevella said.

Puentevella said he will consult his constituents in Bacolod City on the Cha-cha proposals.

A Lakas CMD statement furnished the DAILY STAR by Puentevella said Arroyo, Ramos and de Venecia "affirmed in the presence of the party leaders their abiding unity and pledged to lead the party as a solid triumvirate."

The three leaders expressed their resolve not to allow current political differences to create any rift nor project any image or impression of disunity among them, the party statement added.

The national directorate unanimously approved a resolution supporting the move to change the country's form of government from the present presidential bicameral system to a unicameral parliamentary system principally to break the gridlocks among the branches of government and hasten economic growth and people's sustainable development, the statement said.

The Lakas leadership as a body also pledged to harness the party's organization and constituencies in support of the convening of Constituent Assembly in congress and, simultaneously, a people's initiative to propose amendments to the Constitution, the statement said.

The Lakas-CMD national directorate also passed a resolution in support of the speedy passage of the anti-terror bill as well as other vital legislation related to economic progress and political stability pending before Congress, the statement said.*CPG

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