I wish to make the following clarifications in response to Speaker Prospero Nograles’ concerns about my having possibly linked PGMA to the cha-cha initiatives:

1. I never said in my written press statement that the initiatives for charter change are dictated or imposed by the Palace or PGMA;
2. I principally addressed my plea to my majority coalition colleagues in the House to:
   1. recognize the limits of power;
   2. not try the people’s tolerance;
   3. to read the writing on the wall against pursuing cha-cha now instead of after the 2010 elections; and
   4. foreclose the possibility of an emerging divisive popular turmoil.
3. I asked the President to stop the cha-cha initiatives considering (a) her being the effective head of the majority coalition and (b) the fact that she is the prime target of the tirades of the political opposition rejecting charter change; and
4. I did not even mention about any projected extension of term of any public elected official but I only expressed the common sentiment of the people having grave suspicions of a possible hidden agenda.