MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines on Thursday said the move by allies of President Benigno Aquino III to amend some of the economic provisions of the Constitution is only a ploy to extend the term of the Chief Executive.
CBCP Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs chairman Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said the plan to extend the term of office of Aquino is the main agenda of his political allies in Congress in seeking to amend the 1987 Constitution.
The bishop noted that there is no need to amend the economic provision of the Charter as the President himself boasted of the 5.7-percent growth of the country's gross domestic product during the first quarter of the year.
"Hindi talaga dapat payagan ang Charter Change. Napakahalaga ng dokumento ng pamahalaan 'yang saligang batas na hindi dapat ginagalaw ng kung sinu-sino lang na mga tao dahil sa political reasons. Ang Kongreso ngayon ay hindi maasahan sa paggawa ng batas, ano pa kaya sa pagbago ng constitution?
"Kaya kung babaguhin ang constitution ay pag-aralan ng matagal at dapat may ‘say’ ang taumbayan. At ang ating nasa Congress, hindi natin sila pinili para baguhin ang ating konstitusyon at saka lalong lao na ngayon na ang intention ng pagbabago ng constitution ay para lamang mapahaba ang term ng nakaupo, 'yan po ay self interest," the prelate said.
If the charter amendments push through, Pabillo said it would open to more changes such as clipping the judicial review power of the Supreme Court.
The High Court has declared unconstitutional the government's Disbursement Acceleration Program which the Aquino administration touted as a way to boost the economy.