Malacaņang said today that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is ready to undergo the impeachment process and clear her name of the charges leveled against her by her political detractors.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, in a radio interview this morning, pointed out that right from the start of the current political controversy, the President had urged her detractors to bring their charges against her to the proper forum, instead of trying to bring her down through trial by publicity and black propaganda.

She has always maintained her readiness to submit herself to the constitutional processes in Congress, the courts, Ermita said, as he debunked opposition claims that Malacanang was out to derail the impeachment proceedings against the President in the House of Representatives.

"Hindi siyempre pinipigilan iyan," (we’re not trying to derail) the impeachment process, Ermita said.

On Aug. 1, the President reiterated her complaint that she was the target of a relentless black propaganda unleashed by her political detractors, in an orchestrated effort to bring her down.

At the same time, she reiterated her readiness to face the charges against her through the impeachment process.

The occasion was the launching of the national plan of action for infant and young child feeding program of her administration held in Malacaņang.

Contrary to reports, the President is ready to do legal battle through the impeachment court, present her evidence and to prove that the accusations against her are groundless, Ermita said.

The President has named prominent lawyer Carlos G. Platon of the Platon, Martinez, San Pedro and Leano law office as her lead counsel in the impeachment case.

The other members of the President’s defense team are lawyers Saklolo A. Leano and Pedro Ferrer, while lawyer Romulo Makalintal will serve as the team’s spokesman.

The President’s action in designating her legal panel and an impeachment spokesman demonstrates her readiness and commitment to face the constitutional process.

She has done this to leave the job to a trusted impeachment team while she concentrates on the business of the nation.

In line with the President’s instructions, all departments and agencies are already implementing stringent energy conservation measures. The lights are being dimmed and all cooling systems turned off early right here in the Palace.

Malacaņang said today President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has not wavered in her commitment to Charter Change (Cha-Cha), claiming this was clear even during last year’s presidential campaign and in her State of the Nation Address (SONA) last month.

This was stressed by Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye in a radio interview this morning in reaction to apprehensions that the President may have changed her mind anent her plans to push for Charter Change.

"Maliwanag po ang stand ng ating Pangulo dito sa Constitutional change at hindi ito nagbabago (The President’s stand on Constitutional change is clear and has not changed)," he said.

Former President Fidel Ramos Saturday said in published reports that President Arroyo appears to have shelved initiatives to amend the Constitution.

Ramos claimed that the President has not been focusing enough time and effort in fulfilling the commitment she made in her July 25 SONA to push for Cha-Cha as soon as possible.

Bunye said in fact, the President has directed Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz and Local Governments Secretary Angelo Reyes to actively take part in the public consultations leading to the creation of a Consultative Constitutional Commission that will study proposed amendments to the Charter.

"Medyo tahimik lamang magtrabaho itong dalawang officials, but ginagawa nila iyong kanilang nararapat gawin (They are silent workers but they know what they are doing)," he said.

The consultative commission will help expedite the work of whichever body will undertake the Cha-Cha, the proposed Constituent Assembly (ConAss) or Constitutional Convention (Con-Con), Bunye said.

Asked about his earlier pronouncements that the President intends to serve her full term, Bunye explained that until the Charter is changed or amended, the President is still bound to serve the remainder of her term under the present Constitution.

"Sa ngayon ay hindi pa nababago ang Charter. At ang ating Pangulo ay inihalal for a term under the present Constitution up to 2010," he said.

Malacaņang today underscored anew the need for the Filipino people to conserve energy amid the looming continued rise of oil prices in the world market.

Oil prices in the world market have doubled from $30 per barrel one and a half years ago to $65 this week. Reports said crude oil prices may continue to rise as there will be an increased demand by nations with temperate climate during the cold months.

"I am appealing to the people to seriously consider conserving energy amid a possible energy crisis which is beyond government’s control," Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said in a radio interview this morning.

Bunye, who is also the Presidential Spokesperson, said the increasing oil prices in the world market would definitely have a great impact on the prices of oil products in the country.

The Department of Energy (DOE) said the country’s oil import bill amounts to P324 billion annually. The imported oil accounts for about 37.01 percent of the country’s energy requirements.

Earlier, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday called on the people "to clearly appreciate the looming crisis arising out of the unabated price of oil in the world market."

The Chief Executive also urged the people "to engage in serious and consistent effort to conserve energy and exploit alternative sources of fuel."

Bunye advised the public to plan their trips and to conserve energy use at home and in the office by turning off appliances which are not in use as "all of these will add up to energy consumption."

"In line with the President’s instructions, all government departments and agencies are already implementing stringent energy conservation measures. The lights are being dimmed and all cooling systems turned off early right here in the Palace," Bunye said.

"We aim to set the example not only in energy conservation but also in fiscal discipline. Strict energy conservation is now a matter of national survival and we will be the first to bite the bullet," he added.

Meanwhile, the government is exploring long-term solutions to the oil crisis as the President has encouraged the development of indigenous and renewable sources of energy so the country could lessen its dependence on imported crude oil.

Among these are the Salcon-Kepco power plant project in Naga, Cebu, which the President recently led the groundbreaking, and the development and promotion of the use of indigenous coal, geothermal, hydro, solar and wind power, coco diesel/bio-diesel by the DOE upon instructions from the President.

Malacaņang said today peripheral political noise and distraction should take a backseat to government efforts to address the twin challenges posed by escalating oil prices in the world market and a resurgent terrorist threat.

"Strict energy conservation is now a matter of national survival," Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said as the price of oil in the world market surged to $65 a barrel, the highest ever.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered all departments and agencies to ensure that stringent energy conservation measures are fully implemented. The objective is for government to set the example in both energy conservation and fiscal discipline, Bunye said.

Upon the President’s instructions, lights are dimmed and all cooling systems are turned off early in the Malacaņang complex, he said. "We will be the first to bite the bullet."

In just one and a half years, the price of oil in the world market vaulted more than two times from $30 a barrel to today’s $65 price tag, with no end in sight to the volatility of the global oil price situation.

In various forums, the President continues to underscore the urgency of strict energy conservation as a national effort to lessen the impact of steep oil prices all around -- the private and government sectors.

Interviewed last night over MBC-Radio DZRH by Tiya Dely, the President said that since 2001 she had taken steps to develop indigenous sources of energy such as ethanol, biomass, biogas and coco diesel. She added that the country’s first ethanol station for ethanol-fed buses will be inaugurated on Sept. 1.

Bunye also admitted that the country faces a resurgent terrorist threat as shown by the twin bombings in Zamboanga City Wednesday that injured 26 people. Three of the bombing suspects have been arrested.