BY WENDELL VIGILIA

SPEAKER Prospero Nograles yesterday lauded the senators' call for a shift to a federal form of government, saying the Senate's turnaround has insulated Malacañang from allegations that the Charter Change initiative is aimed at extending the term of President Arroyo beyond 2010.

Nograles said he was glad the resolution came from the Senate. "At least ito, hindi nanggaling sa amin (House)," he said.

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. filed Joint Senate Resolution 10 last April 28 which called for the convening of Congress into a constituent assembly to revise the Constitution to establish a federal state of government.

Those who signed the resolution, aside from Pimentel, were Senate President Manuel Villar, majority leader Francis Pangilinan, Senate President pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Edgardo Angara, Rodolfo Biazon, Pia Cayetano, Juan Ponce Enrile, Francis Escudero, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Ramon Revilla, Jr. and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

But House minority bloc spokesman Roilo Golez (Ind., Parañaque) said he finds the resolution very intriguing.

"If this were not a proposition coming from Senator Pimentel, then I would be very, very skeptical and I would even say that this is one of the manipulative actions of Malacañang."

"It's a very puzzling scenario that we're seeing right now," he said.

Golez said there is a need to examine the political leanings of the Senate proponents, especially since each of them is a "potential regional premier" under a parliamentary set-up.

"Baka naman pinaghahatian-hatian na yung bansa hindi pa natin alam," he said.

Under the proposal, members of the Senate will be elected by federal states while the members of the House of Representatives will continue to be elected by legislative districts.

The resolution calls for the election of six senators in each of the 11 component federal states that are envisioned to be created. In addition, nine other senators will be elected to represent the Filipinos overseas. This will considerably expand the membership of the Senate which has 24 members.

On the other hand, congressmen will be elected by district but limited to a maximum of 350.

The resolution provides that the senators will serve for six years and congressmen, three years. The senators will be limited to two terms and congressmen, four terms.

Pimentel said the intention is that the term limits of the congressmen and the President should apply even to those who are elected under a new Constitution.

Nograles is set to meet Pimentel next week to discuss the senator's proposal to form a constituent assembly.

Nograles said he is open to the proposal to amend or revise the Constitution for as long as the changes will be implemented after the 2010 elections.

Nograles said the Senate's sudden change of heart was a "pleasant surprise."