Manila: House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said she is not in favour of plans to cancel the midterm 2019 while similarly rebuffing allegations that she was behind the so-called “No Elections” push.

“No, definitely I am not supporting term extension,” Arroyo, the former president, was quoted as saying in Dinalupihan, Bataan, while visiting areas affected by the recent flooding in Central Luzon on Friday.

Arroyo, who is on her third and final term as Representative of the Second Congressional District of Pampanga, also said she has no plans to run for Prime Minister under a planned federal government set-up.

The 71-year-old Arroyo said that insinuations that she is planning to extend her term, are merely “black propaganda” perpetrated by her detractors.

“To begin with the proposed constitution under the planned transition to a federal form of government will still be headed by a President and not a Prime Minister,” she said.

It can be recalled that at some point during her nine-year presidency that ended in 2010, Arroyo had ordered a study on a possible change in the 1987 Constitution. However, she had also called off plans for a transition to a new constitution due to lack of support from Filipinos, and opposition from church groups.

Arroyo had been thrust to the post as head of the 299-member House of Representatives last Monday after Speaker Pantalon Alvarez was ousted by the majority due to his insistence on calling off the 2019 midterm elections.

Arroyo is already on the third and last term and won’t be able to run for the same post in 2019, but she could seek higher office such as senator.

However, Senator Panfilo Lacson, a long-time political foe of Arroyo, said the former President can never be under estimated.

“This is an observation shared by political pundits: Speaker Arroyo will remain in her post only until June 30 next year since she is on her last three-year term. Given the short period left — with all the session breaks and the incoming election campaign — people can’t help but think that her taking over her present position may have something to do with the planned shift from unitary to parliamentary system before next year’s election,” Lacson said.

“If this materialises, which I doubt of course, she would be the logical choice as the country’s first woman Prime Minister. The point is, why change the leadership when there is very little productive time left in this present House of Representatives?” he said.