‘Cha-cha will beget another dictator’
Former Philippine first lady and now congresswoman, Imelda Marcos, kisses the glass case of her late husband president Ferdinand Marcos during a visit to the mausoleum on her 85th birthday in Batac town, Ilocos norte, north of Manila on July 2, 2014. AFP PHOTO/TED ALJIBE
TOKYO—President Benigno Aquino III on Friday dismissed anew proposals to amend the Constitution to extend his term, warning that such a move could lead to the installation of another dictator in the Philippines.
“My answer to those who are espousing an extension of terms is, we will undoubtedly have benefits for having a government that will not have to relearn how to govern, but at the same time we open the doors to somebody who might emulate [former President Ferdinand] Marcos and decide [to stay in office] forever,” the President said in a discussion of Philippine domestic issues with Japanese journalists.
Marcos was elected to a four-year term in 1965. He won reelection in 1969 then declared martial law in 1972 to avoid leaving office in 1973 and went on to rule the Philippines until he was toppled from power in the People Power Revolution in 1986.
It was under martial law that Mr. Aquino’s father, Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr., the leader of the opposition to Marcos, was assassinated as he returned from exile in the United States.
READ: To young Filipinos who never knew martial law and dictatorship
The murder of Senator Aquino galvanized support for the peaceful revolution that swept President Aquino’s mother, Corazon Aquino, to power.
No to amendment
It was under Cory Aquino’s presidency that the current Constitution was adopted, and she resisted all efforts by her allies to amend the Charter to extend her six-year term.
Like her, Mr. Aquino has rejected his allies’ suggestions to amend the Constitution to enable him to extend his term and pursue his administration’s reform program.
“I think that is a very serious risk that our country, or my country, has to avoid. So I ask that we not consider reopening the Constitution for term limits,” Mr. Aquino said.
During his four-day state visit to Japan, Mr. Aquino was asked several times who he thought would be best to succeed him, and how the Philippines could guarantee that the gains of his administration could be sustained under a new leader.
He did not name his chosen candidate, but said he would announce who it was after his final address to a joint session of Congress in July.
Mr. Aquino gave the assurance that the friendship between the Philippines and Japan would always remain.
The President did not give a direct answer when asked about the unpopularity with voters of the ruling Liberal Party’s prospective presidential candidate, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.
Instead, Mr. Aquino said: “I don’t think our people will [make a] foolhardy [choice and elect someone who] will suddenly throw away all of these very good economic partnerships that we have with Japan.”
Last appointment
The President’s stop at the Japan National Press Club was his last appointment during his state visit.
Before meeting Japanese journalists, Mr. Aquino received Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko for a farewell call at the Imperial Hotel, his residence in Tokyo.
The President and his entourage flew back to Manila on a chartered Philippine Airlines plane at 2:50 p.m. (Japan time) Friday.
He arrived in Manila at 5:49 p.m.
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