Palace: Chacha still not a priority

But Aquino, in a chance interview with reporters on Thursday, said he was surprised with the news.

 

"I was taken aback by the headlines today, and the stories that appeared in the [news]papers today. We haven’t discussed that," he said after attending a forum of the Department of Interior and Local Government on disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation on Thursday.

 

He likewise said that the last time he saw Enrile and Belmonte, they only discussed the country's dispute over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

 

"There was no talk or whatsoever about the Charter Change," he said.

 

The President, however, said that he was willing to listen to the points of the two Houses of Congress.

 

"We are a democracy, ‘di ba, you have to listen to differing ideas and come up with what’s best for our people," he said, although noting he was not convinced that they need to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution as proposed by Enrile and Belmonte.

 

"Even with the present Constitution palagay ko we are capable of reaching the economic heights we want, and changing the Constitution, changes the rules of the game which might delay the progress," he said, noting that the economy grew 6.4 percent in the last quarter.

 

Valte likewise said that the opinions of Enrile and Belmonte, leaders of independent branches of government, would likely not affect Aquino's own.

 

"We can make our position known and it will be up to them on how they will receive that particular position," she said, adding that she has yet to receive information on whether the Congress heads intend to speak to the President about the issue.