MANILA, Philippines – Will it be an Aquino-Binay showdown come 2016?
Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice PHOTO BY RICHARD REYES
An ally of President Benigno Aquino III wants to amend the Constitution to allow Aquino to have another term of office.
Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice on Thursday said he wants to extend the term of presidents in the Constitution in a bid to allow the re-election of President Aquino in the 2016 polls.
Erice said he would file a bill to amend the Charter.
If the bill is passed by Congress, a plebiscite must be held before amending the Charter.
“Seldom that a country finds a leader who is selfless and can inspire its people,” Erice said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.
The Liberal Party stalwart added that the country saw economic growth and anti-corruption efforts under the current administration.
He cited the filing of plunder and graft charges against Senators Ramon Revilla Jr., Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile over the alleged pork barrel scam.
Erice said he got the idea on social media where he saw overwhelming support for the President.
“Nagbabasa kasi ako ng comments sa social media. Nakikita ko ang support. So I said why not formalize it?” Erice said in a phone interview, adding that he would file a bill after two weeks of a signature drive in his district.
(I’ve been reading comments on social media. And I saw the support. So I said, why not formalize it?)
On Aquino’s Facebook Page, which has 4 million followers, supporters have been posting messages and photos bearing the words “ One More Term” and “Re-Elect Pnoy for 2016.”
“I’m not proposing an outright term extension. I just want to make the President eligible for reelection,” Erice added.
But an opposition solon said there is nothing honest and sincere in Erice’s proposal to extend the president’s six-year term limit.
Navotas Rep. and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) secretary general Toby Tiangco said while the administration’s allies defend Aquino over the Supreme Court’s decision declaring parts of the president’s Disbursement Acceleration Program unconstitutional, here is an ally wanting to amend the Charter for his own agenda.
“Inaaway nila ang Supreme Court na hindi sila magkasundo sa Constitution, now if they see something, they would amend the Constitution to suit what they want?” Tiangco said in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net.
“How can you claim to be an honest, good leader if you’re doing something for your own personal gain?” he added.
Erice said there is nothing self-serving in his proposal because he wanted to extend the President’s term only and not his and his colleagues’ in Congress.
“To extend the term of an honest, sincere and reformist leader is serving the best interest of the people,” he said in a text message.
When asked if it is OK to say that President Benigno Aquino III and UNA’s bet Vice President Jejomar Binay will clash in 2016?
“It’s too far along the way,” Tiangco of UNA said.
RELATED STORIES