Noy ally bent on political Cha-cha

MANILA, Philippines - A stalwart of the Liberal Party (LP) yesterday said he will press for a second term for President Aquino in the House of Representatives even if his colleagues and the general public are cool to such a move.

Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice said he is pinning his hopes on the fact that the LP has yet to have an official stand on the pronouncement of Aquino – the party’s leader – that he is open to having another term in office but the political provisions of the Constitution have to be amended first.

Erice said Aquino appears to be the only one in the country who can continue his much-touted reforms, adding his bill seeking to amend the Constitution to lift the term limits of elected officials is ready to be filed anytime.

“If the party decides to support the President in having a second term, the bill should be filed by October so there’s still time (for political Charter change),” the lawmaker told reporters.

“He’s ready to continue his reforms. If there’s another one whom he thinks can do so, he’s also ready (to give way). Compared to us, he knows many things,” he said.

He said there is still time for the LP to discuss the controversial proposal even as other political parties from the majority bloc have yet to discuss, much less have a stand on, the issue.

Earlier, Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II in separate interviews this week said Congress neither has the time nor the interest to tinker with the political provisions of the Constitution.

Gonzales said the House is preoccupied with the deliberations on the proposed P2.606-trillion national budget, the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and Resolution of Both Houses No. 1 (RBH 1), which seeks to boost foreign investments by easing the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution.

He said the proposed budget should be enacted into law before the end of the year, while the BBL should be passed to allow for the holding of a plebiscite by February or March.

He said it was possible that the RBH 1 and the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, which are both being deliberated in plenary, will be passed this year.

He warned that tackling the potentially divisive issue of extending Aquino’s term through political Charter change could distract lawmakers from the urgent pending measures.