TORN between his ties with the beleaguered administration of President Arroyo and his love for his former profession as journalist, House Speaker Jose de Venecia has been trying to balance his views on the present crisis facing the nation.

In a radio interview, De Venecia, who has remained an ally of the President in the face of several attempts to unseat her, said that he favors the lifting of Presidential Proclamation 1017 declaring a state of emergency in order for the country to return to normalcy. (At presstime, the President has lifted her declaration of emergency.)

He however defended the President for taking necessary moves to quell coup attempts and other destabilization efforts.

On the issue of press freedom, De Venecia noted that journalists continue to enjoy a free press. He asked his former peers to however observe responsible journalism.

He also recalled his years as a journalist when he faced a rebellion charge that took several years to be resolved by the courts.

Pitching anew for his pet Constitutional reform, De Venecia said that coup attempts and other destabilization moves now will be gone once the country adopts the parliamentary system.

He said that removing an ineffective prime minister is much easier than removing an incompetent president under the present set-up.