However, Speaker Prospero Nograles said the Senate may only count on the support of congressmen if senators will agree to implement all amendments to the Charter after 2010 when the country has chosen a new president.

Previously eager to pursue Charter amendments, the Arroyo administration declared there might not be enough time to a shift to federalism as sought by senators.

In 2006, President Arroyo and the Lower House, then headed by Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia, forged a partnership to push a revision of the 1987 Constitution, particularly a shift to parliamentary system, but Senate stood in their way as senators rejected the bid to convene Congress into a constituent assembly.

But even before 11 incumbent senators approved the proposed convening of the constituent assembly to push for federalism, the House Committee on Constitutional Reform had already been conducting a series of hearings to discuss proposed Charter amendments and study the most acceptable way to do it.

In a press conference on Thursday, Nograles said that he had received the 63-page Senate report on the proposed convening of the constituent assembly which he is currently studying.The report pushes for the constituent assembly to amend the Charter and introduce federalism which was proposed by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

"But offhand, I admit that I am an advocate of federalism, I will not oppose this. I’ve long advocated for many years (for federalism) especially for Mindanao," said Nograles.

The Speaker expressed relief that the Charter change initiative came from the Senate, saying that this would douse speculations that the hidden agenda in pursuing amendments is to extend the term of office of President Arroyo.

But only last Tuesday, La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, committee chairman, presided over a hearing for the preliminary discussion of the proposed extension of the term of office of elected officials from three to five and the proposed removal of presidential authority to appoint officials of the judiciary.

Stressing that the three-year term for an elected official is too short and that frequent elections has adversely affected tax collection efforts, Suarez said there is now an urgent need to allow politicians to serve an extend term of at least four to five years.

The removal of presidential power to appoint court magistrates was proposed by Paranaque City Rep. Roilo Golez.

In the same hearing of the constitutional revision body, members also vowed to submit reports on the most acceptable manner of introducing amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

Nograles said the committee will be tasked to study the Senate proposal very carefully and submit its report as soon as possible.

But the House leader stressed that any amendments should take effect only after 2010."We will not allow changes before 2010. But certainly if its a matter of discussion, it’s best to discuss it early," Nograles stated. "This is not something you can talk about overnight."

GMA won’t stop Senate push for Constitutional reform

President Arroyo will not get in the way of the Senate’s "surprising" push for Charter change through a constituent assembly, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said yesterday.

"We will not stand in the way, but realistically, the time left is not sufficient for Charter change," Bunye said.

Bunye said many Cabinet members, including himself, were surprised at the Senate’s resolution pushing for Charter change through constituent assembly.

"There are many of us here who were surprised," Bunye said. "Even I was surprised."

In the administration’s earlier campaigns to push for Charter change, senators were adamant against changing the Constitution by convening the two chambers of Congress into a constituent assembly and favored the election of delegates to a constitutional convention.

The senators said they would be outnumbered by congressmen in pushing for certain amendments to the Constitution if the constituent assembly mode of Charter change is adopted.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, a known advocate of federalism, filed a resolution seeking for the shift to a federal and parliamentary system of government. The resolution was signed by 10 other senators.

Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo is not actively pushing for Charter change, although it remains a part of her political platform.

"The President run under a platform of economic and political reform, and political reform includes Charter change," Bunye said.