Top officials of the Liberal Party (LP) on Monday assured that the House of Representatives will not prioritize the resolution of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo seeking to introduce amendments to the Constitution.

Quezon City Rep. Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte, who is being fielded by the LP to become the next Speaker, said the administration of President Benigno Aquino III will not include in its legislative priorities the call for a Constitutional Convention.

"The resolution for Charter change will definitely not be a priority because it has become a divisive issue in the last Congress since it was inspired by Mrs. Arroyo’s allies in the House of Representatives," Belmonte said in an interview.

"At this point, we need to be united behind the program of this current administration. This resolution is a divisive issue and at this stage we want unity, we can talk about that later, but we wish to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution," he added.

For his part, LP spokesperson and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo "Erin" Tanada said that more or less 150 congressmen support Belmonte's bid to become the next Speaker, assuring that the proposal will pass through the eye of a needle before gaining approval in the Lower Chamber.

Tanada said that Mrs. Arroyo's resolution calling for a Constitutional Convention will not get any special treatment in the 15th Congress, adding it will still need the support of at least 191 legislators before it could be passed.

"It's not that easy to have this passed," Tanada said, stressing that LP is waiting to consult the matter with President Aquino as some members find the resolution "desirable" and are "willing to concede that some of them (provisions) can stand improvement."