Press Statement
On National Renewal in 2010

27 November 2008 -- The Makati Business Club expresses unequivocal opposition to any moves to amend the Constitution for the purpose of prolonging the hold on power of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other elected officials.

The world is experiencing the worst financial crisis in decades and the Philippines will not be spared the ill effects of this crisis. The full extent of the negative impact on our economy has yet to unfold. Given such circumstances, what the country needs at this time is certainly not the haphazard change of the fundamental law but a strong and credible leadership that enjoys the support of the Filipino people.

Mrs. Arroyo no longer has the support and confidence of the majority of our people, not only because she continues to serve under a dubious mandate, but also because of the unending corruption scandals that have marked her administration and her unwillingness to address these issues.
  
The Filipino people look forward to national renewal through general elections in 2010. We see the 2010 elections as the means by which we will elect leaders who will lead our country, hopefully with new vision and proven integrity, toward progress and a better life.

Any attempts to cancel these elections and deprive our people of this much-anticipated opportunity for leadership change will surely be met with the strongest opposition from all sectors of Philippine society. Such a subversion of the people’s will would render our nation demoralized, at a time when we need to be strong to face the serious challenges ahead of us.

The Makati Business Club, in concert with other key sectors and the vast majority of the Filipino people, will do all we can to assure that the 2010 elections take place.

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