Palace not giving up on term extension

MANILA, Philippines - Despite survey results showing public disapproval of Charter change and a term extension for President Aquino, Malacañang is not yet putting the issue to rest, saying it’s the voice of the people that should ultimately matter.

“Isn’t it the responsibility of the President to respond to the voices and sentiments of the people that he serves?” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

“This is a continuing process that the President has committed to undertake as part of his stewardship as the Chief Executive of the land,” Coloma added.

He said the Pulse Asia survey may simply be part of an ongoing process of determining the sentiments of the people on Cha-cha and on a possible reelection bid of Aquino.

Coloma said they were doing round-the-clock monitoring of public opinion.

Asked why the President would rather keep the issue hanging and give the people mixed signals, Coloma said free speech and debates were part of a healthy democracy and not one sector, even government, has the monopoly of opinion.

“We should be comfortable in discussing issues like these and we should not get tired of tackling matters that have implications on the country’s future,” Coloma said.

He stressed the President was not getting distracted and remained focused on fulfilling his social contract with the people.

He said even Cha-cha and term extension debates should be taken in the context of Aquino’s desire to sustain reforms and make them felt by everyone.

“That’s what we are paying attention to, dedicated and determined (to do),” Coloma said.

Based on the Pulse Asia survey, around six in 10 Filipinos are not in favor of a second term for Aquino if the 1987 Constitution were to amended to allow him to seek another term.

The same survey showed 62 percent or a “sizeable majority” of Filipinos oppose Cha-cha.

Asked about their reaction on the figures, Coloma said: “Tinatanggap namin ’yon nang mahinahon at walang sorpresa (We accept it calmly and without surprise).”

“Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them,” he said. “Therefore, we take the position that the voice of the people ought to be heard; the voice of the people ought to be listened to as a basis for decision-making,” he added.

For the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), the Pulse Asia survey result should convince the administration of the futility of forcing on the people its “self serving” political and “foreign-dictated” economic agenda.

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said the recent Pulse Asia survey showed that President Aquino’s use of the Cha-cha issue to cover up scandals involving officials is not working.

“The ‘second term’ agenda is being used to proclaim the nonexistent achievements of the government and cover-up the corruption scandals involving Aquino and his officials,” he said.

He also said it’s the big foreign business interests that are pushing for changes in the economic provisions of the Constitution.

“The worsening economic crisis has made Filipinos reject greater foreign control over our economy,” Reyes said.

Meanwhile, farmers belonging to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) will launch week-long protests this month against the administration’s effort to change the Constitution to allow the president to seek reelection.