Robin opposes lifting term limits of elected officials

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Robin Padilla will oppose attempts to lift term limits of elected officials but will push for lifting restrictions on foreign ownership of industries in proposing amendments to the Constitution.

Padilla, who is expected to chair the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, said his advocacy to shift the form of government to a federal system would have to take a backseat as his priority now in Charter change is the economic provisions.

“Term extension is a turn-off. If that’s where Charter change will start, we lose appetite because it appears extending terms is what we want,” Padilla told reporters yesterday in Filipino.

“For me, that’s for last because if we talk about it now, then don’t bother,” he said.

He said if he finally chairs the committee and the proposal to lift term limits is on the agenda in the first hearing, he would lose interest in pursuing amendments to the Constitution.

He said he did not discount the possibility that a member of Congress would propose to revise the terms of elected officials.

Padilla explained that he is deriving lessons from attempts to amend the Constitution since the time of former president Fidel Ramos.

Pushing for proposals to amend the political provisions of the Constitution and changing provisions on political dynasties are sure ways for Charter change efforts to be scuttled, he said.