MANILA. Picking up the cue from its allies in the House, Malacañang said yesterday that it, too, was now in favor of electing delegates to a constitutional convention instead of convening Congress into a constituent assembly to amend the Constitution.

Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio said the shift to the remaining mode of Charter change - the third mode, the people's initiative, was rejected by the Supreme Court - might finally harness popular support for the administration's plans to amend the Constitution and effect a change in the system of government.

"We hope that finally through a constitutional convention elected directly by the people, the advocacy for political and constitutional reforms can rally the support of the entire Congress and all the sectors of society in a spirit of unity dedicated only to the best interest of the nation," Claudio said, at the same time lauding the House majority's decision to push through with the May elections.

"We laud and support the position of the House to push on with the elections of May 14 next year," he said. "We also join them as well as the other sectors in urging the whole Congress, Senate and House combined, to immediately call for a constitutional convention."

The shift to a constitutional convention was announced at a press conference by House Speaker Jose de Venecia.

Claudio claimed the administration has been consistent in its stand to amend the 1987 Constitution by whatever mode in order to reform the political system, although previously, the government openly advocated only a people's initiative or convening Congress into a constituent assembly.

The administration's sudden turnaround on the mode of amending the Constitution came in the wake of threats by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, the charismatic group El Shaddai, the Jesus is Lord Movement of defeated presidential aspirant Eddie Villanueva, militant groups and civil society, to stage mass protests next week if the House decided to forge on with the constituent assembly.

The administration had insisted that it could convene a constituent assembly and approve proposed Constitutional amendments without the Senate's participation.