Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio said the administration is now preoccupied with preparations for the May national and local elections as he denied any direct involvement in the alleged second signature movement for Charter change with the principal objective of changing the country’s presidential form of government.

"We are now focused on the elections, on the preparations for the elections. The administration’s focus is on protecting the gains and momentum of our economic reform program, so that its fruits can be plowed back to the people," Claudio said in a phone interview with reporters.

Claudio emphasized that the administration needs to protect the momentum for economic growth by emerging victorious in the upcoming elections. "That’s why preparations for the elections are in earnest and will not be distracted by speculations of another round of Charter change at this time," he said.

After suffering a defeat at the Supreme Court last year, some local government officials will reportedly launch another signature movement to facilitate a shift to a unicameral parliamentary government.

Reports said local executives are scheduled to meet next week to firm up a second People’s Initiative which seeks the holding of a plebiscite for Charter change simultaneous with the May 2007 elections.

Last October, the Supreme Court dismissed with finality a petition to amend the Constitution through a People’s Initiative filed by Charter change proponents led by the Sigaw ng Bayan.

Majority of the justices found no merit in the Initiative petition, saying that the method used was "irregular."

Meanwhile, Malacañang predicted yesterday that the political opposition will suffer a bitter defeat in the upcoming elections because of its "platform of hate and destruction."

Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio said the Filipino voters will reject opposition candidates who have openly advocated plans to impeach President Arroyo and offered nothing else to improve their lives.

Claudio said Mrs. Arroyo has been consistent in her programs for economic reforms which, he said, the opposition electoral bets only seek to disrupt. "The opposition wants to derail and destroy the current momentum of economic stability and progress by advocating a destructive platform of impeaching the President. Beyond that there is no offer of any program to uplift the national condition," he said.

"In the end, this will spell the defeat of the opposition because the electorate will distinguish between the administration’s platform for rising economic progress against the opposition’s platform of hate and destruction," he said.

Claudio said the public must worry about the prospect, "no matter how remote," of an opposition victory in the May polls.

"All indicators point to an imminent upswing and turnaround of our economy under the leadership of President Arroyo, who has been tenacious and consistent about her drive for economic reforms," he said.

The administration has yet to reveal its lineup for the May elections, which will reportedly be composed of Cabinet members, congressional allies and local executives.

The fate of the President lies on the administration bets who must retain control of Congress to save her from any impeachment until 2010.

The political opposition has made its primary platform to impeach Mrs. Arroyo should their candidates win the elections in May.

With the imminent approach of the election period, Mrs. Arroyo, meantime, remains focused on efforts to spur economic growth in the countryside through the super regions.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the President will not allow any distractions attendant to the forthcoming political season to stand in the way of the economy. "The momentum is strong and our people can be assured that the fruits of growth will be delivered right to their doorstep every single day moving up and forward," he said.

"But we need sustained unity, productivity and excellence combined with strong leadership to pull the train of Philippine stability and prosperity forward," he said.