Palace told: Set record straight on Cha-cha

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang should stop playing with the minds of the people and just set the record straight on the possibility of President Aquino seeking reelection in 2016, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said yesterday.

Romualdez, the leader of the so-called independent bloc in the House of Representatives, said Aquino is doing a disservice to Filipinos by floating the idea of term extension through amendments to the political provisions of the Constitution.

“Since he (Aquino) said he was open to another term, it has left people confused, and political, government and private organizations are speculating, and the entire nation is distracted as if they want the people to scurry around while waiting for some words from above,” he said.

“The people are intelligent and not to be insulted and demeaned that way,” the House leader said.

Romualdez said the administration “has lost its focus even more on the pressing economic issues like joblessness and fundamental economic reforms to generate investments.”

He said even pro-administration political parties, whose support is vital in passing urgent legislation, have not come up with their respective positions on the issue.

He said Aquino himself was engaged in premature campaigning when he accused opposition politicians of setting their sights on 2016 instead of doing their jobs.

Romualdez stressed he is still supportive of Resolution of Both Houses No. 1 (RBH 1), which seeks to relax the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution. Plenary discussions on the RBH 1 are expected to resume on Tuesday.

Earlier, senior administration lawmakers asked Aquino to be more trusting of Filipinos’ capability to choose their next leader in 2016.

Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian said the latest survey by the Social Weather Station showing the number of jobless Filipinos going up by about 300,000 individuals should prod the administration to focus on jobs creation and poverty amelioration instead of putting too much time and effort trying to seek another term.

“It is bad enough that those employed are complaining of low wages and rising prices of commodities and utilities. But it’s even worse for those who are currently jobless, since having no income means no money to buy the basic necessities like food, clothing and shelter,” he said.

In Zamboanga City, Rep. Lilia Nuño voiced her opposition yesterday to changes in the Constitution that would allow the president to run for reelection.

“We are not supporting the Cha-cha because the Constitution does not allow the president to run for a second term unless you amend the Constitution,” Nuño told local reporters.

Nuño is from the Nacionalista Party (NP), which is part of the pro-administration coalition that fielded common candidates in the 2010 and 2013 elections.

She said some officials close to the President might be trying to convince him to seek another term so they can be shielded from possible prosecution for corruption. President Aquino himself is facing impeachment.

Nuño stressed she is against impeaching the President. “We in the Nacionalista are not in favor of the impeachment because it will derail the programs of the government,” Nuño said.         – With Roel Pareño