Aquino term extension not possible, senators say

MANILA, Philippines - Senators disagreed with Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II’s claims that President Aquino may opt for term extension once he finishes his term in 2016.

Senate President Franklin Drilon and other senators crossed party lines in explaining that any efforts to prolong the president’s stay in power would be illegal unless Congress paves way for charter amendments on term limits of the president.

Drilon, vice-chairman of the administration’s Liberal Party, said he is clueless on talks about term extension.

“I haven’t heard that. I have talked to the president on that. Ang pagkakaalam ko ang term extension ay nangangailangan ng pagbabago sa ating Saligang Batas,” Drilon said.

Drilon recognized that the president is not keen on charter change, even on proposals coming from partymates at the Senate and the House of Representatives on just looking into the economic provisions.

“Alam natin na reluctant ang pangulo on any amendment on the Constitution. I don’t want to comment until I know what the president's position is. Hindi ko alam, ngayon ko lang narinig sa inyo,” Drilon added.

Drilon tossed to the House of Representatives efforts to change the 1986 Constitution. “Walang plano ang Senado sa Cha-Cha. Ang Cha-Cha ngayon ay ang pagbabago ng proseso sa pag-amyenda sa Saligang Batas ay nasa House of Representatives,” he said.

Drilon was referring to the proposed amendments to place on the economic provision the phrase  “unless otherwise provided by law” in order to provide some flexibility in setting our economic policies.

“We are waiting for the action of the House on this before we take it up in the Senate. Insofar as the term extension is concerned, this is the first time I’m hearing this,” the Senate president said.

Senator Bam Aquino, the president’s cousin, noted that the president has been looking forward to finishing his term by 2016.  

“He has mentioned in past speeches that he is looking forward for his return to the private sector,” Senator Aquino said.

The senator said President Aquino should be allowed “to do the reforms in the last months of his term.”

“Then let’s wish him the best if its time for him to step down already. I know for a fact that the President is looking forward to finishing his term on a high note and ensuring that the reforms that he wants to implement,” Senator Aquino said.

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. disagreed with Secretary Mar Roxas, who has been quoted that the president may be allowed to extend his term to continue the reforms which he had started.

“Right now as a practical matter, the Constitution allows the president to have one six-year term,” Marcos said. 

He said it is best for Roxas to explain since “he is a close ally and apparently an admirer of  the President.” “So I think, as a personal wish that is what he is expressing,” Marcos added.

“We have such a process already, it’s called an election. Sinasabi ng tao kung talagang gusto nila o hindi ang performance ng isang tao but again the Constitution, as written, only allows for one term for the president,” Marcos pointed out.

For her part, Senator Nancy Binay said term extension for Aquino could not be feasible.

“I don’t how could it be possible to extend the term of President Aquino since under the Constitution, saying there is only one term for the chief executive,” Binay said.

Binay also doubt there is enough time to amend the Constitution to pave way for term extension of the President. The Congress is also going to be busy with the scrutiny of the 2015 budget, the senator added.

“For me, I have no choice to extend the term of president kasi nakasulat, naka-specific sa ating Constitution there is only one term for the president. Hindi ko rin maiintindihan kung bakit pinag-uusapan natin iyong another term for President Aquino since we knew that he is allowed to have one term,” Binay said.

While President Aquino enjoys high trust ratings, Senator Grace Poe expressed belief that the president and his allies should abide with what the Constitution says on term limits.

“Sa tingin ko, gaya ng nanay ng ating pangulo, nang natapos ang kanyang termino ay alam niyang nagawa na niya ang dapat nyang gawin, kaya nagpaubaya na siya sa susunod na mamumuno,” said Poe, referring to the president’s late mother, former President Corazon Aquino.

"Sa tingin ko, ganun din ang ating pangulo. Sa ating Constitution ay di naman pinapayagan ang ganyan (term extension),” she added.