MANILA, Oct. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- The Philippine government Monday downplayed the political opposition's call for a snap election as merely a "desperate" proposal after they failed in ousting President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's administration.

    "Our political detractors are getting desperate. Not having succeeded in the streets and then in the impeachment, they are now calling for a snap election," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a statement.

    His remarks responded to the earlier announcement by House Minority Leader Francis Escudero, who urged President Arroyo to shorten her term until 2007 to exchange for opposition's support to her proposal of the Constitutional reform.

    Escudero also claimed in the radio interview that some House members, including Speaker Jose de Venecia, confirmed President Arroyo's agreement on a shorter term.

    Denying the possibility of the snap election, Bunye warned that it would certainly snap the country's political and economic momentum.

    "It is not only unconstitutionally unsound. It will signal a return to the politicking that the people have rejected," he said.

    The country is still shadowed by the political unsuitability as the opposition politicians continued their efforts for President Arroyo's step down on the corruption and election fraud charges against her although their impeachment files were all killed by the House of Representatives.

    Bunye reiterated his call in the statement for the stop of "this cycle of destabilization."

    "Instead, let us focus on the economy and overhaul our political system through constitutional change. Let us not abandon the fate and future of 84 million Filipinos to the mercy of a power hungry few." he said.

    "We appreciate all moves to heal our land and in moving our country forward but not quick fix remedies that will only push our people deeper into poverty and uncertainty," he added.

    Despite of opposition's thwart, the 49 members of the government-launched Consultative Commission on Monday kicked off their national consultations and studies to amend the 1987 Constitution with a presidential directive to propose a shift to a parliamentary-federal system of government. Enditem