MANILA — President Benigno Aquino III said Thursday that he is willing to listen to proposals of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte on amending the 1987 Constitution, according to report published in the Sun Star Manila. In a chance interview with the media in Pasay City, President Aquino said he is not totally closing his doors to Charter change and he is open to hear all points about it. “We are in a democracy. We have to listen to different ideas and come up with what is best for the people," Aquino said. The President said he still has doubts on the gains the country could get if the Constitution is amended. He noted that the government is capable of reaching economic heights even without changing the economic provisions of the Constitution. In an earlier interview in Malacanang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said advocates of Charter change in Congress should work harder to convince the president on the need and urgency of amending the Constitution. Valte said Aquino has not changed his position on Charter change and it remains not a priority of his administration. The Palace spokesperson said Enrile and Belmonte “will have to make a case for it to the president" if they want to pursue Charter amendments. — Agencies?
