GMA to Obama: I'm out by June 30, 2010(The Philippine Star) Updated August 27, 2009 01:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo continues to be coy about her political plans for 2010, but she has categorically told US President Barack Obama that she is stepping down as scheduled on June 30, 2010.
“Yes, we have elections in 2010. I will leave office on June 30. But I will be working until the last minute on issues that matter,†President Arroyo told Obama at their White House meeting last month, according to a highly reliable government source.
This developed as Malacañang submitted to Congress yesterday what was described as President Arroyo’s “final†budget proposal, amounting to P1.5 trillion for 2010.
The source said the White House meeting, which lasted 45 minutes, started with welcome remarks by Obama, in which he dwelled at length on the “important elections coming up in 2010 in the Philippines.â€
“You are Asia’s oldest democracy. It’s important that your election process proceeds in a way that will solidify the democratic process and be a model of transparency and democracy in the region,†Obama told President Arroyo, according to the source, who asked not to be named since there are spokesmen designated to talk about the visit.
Malacañang did not mention to the media this aspect of the meeting. Instead the Palace touted Obama’s supposed designation of the Philippines as its coordinator with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
In fact it was President Arroyo, the source clarified, who had mentioned to Obama that ASEAN had picked the Philippines as the grouping’s coordinator for the United States.
ASEAN designates country coordinators for each of its dialogue partners. The role is rotated among ASEAN members every three years. The Philippines takes over from Singapore as US coordinator in 2010.
The Philippines will also be chairing the ASEAN review conference next year on the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which was repeatedly mentioned by Obama during the White House meeting, according to the source.
President Arroyo flew to Washington shortly after delivering her final State of the Nation Address at the joint session of Congress, in which she gave no categorical statement that she would be stepping down or that she would ensure the holding of the general elections in May 2010.
During the press briefing at the end of the White House meeting, the two presidents did not mention Obama’s opening remarks on the elections.
Given one chance to ask a question, a Filipino journalist asked the two presidents their impressions of each other. An American journalist asked about US issues.
US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, who was at the meeting, later told The STAR that Obama was glad that Filipinos would elect new leaders in 2010 in an exercise that “would solidify the democratic process.â€
This was confirmed by the official note-taker of the Philippine delegation to the meeting, Ambassador to the US Willy Gaa.
President Arroyo has avoided stating categorically in the Philippines that she intends to hand over power as scheduled at noon of June 30, 2010.
She has been a frequent visitor to her eldest son’s district in Pampanga, fueling speculation that she plans to seek his congressional seat next year in preparation for a shift to a parliamentary system, wherein she could become prime minister.
This plan would require amending the Constitution, which her allies in the House of Representatives appear to have abandoned.
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