Aquino was probably joking

There’s not much time for Congress, sitting as a constituent assembly, to amend a provision in the Constitution giving the President a second term.

The House of Representatives and the Senate have other things to do like pass laws, conduct investigations in aid of legislation, listen to interminably boring privilege speeches, etc.

Between now and May 2016 is one year and nine months, which is too close.

Discussing the merit of amending the Constitution would take so much of the time of both houses.

Should the Aquino rubber-stamp  Congress and a Senate dominated by Aquino allies be able to amend the Constitution, a plebiscite will have to be conducted before the May 2016 presidential elections.

A plebiscite is a vote by which the citizenry expresses their opinion on an important proposal, such as approving or amending the Constitution.

So when President Noynoy said he was open to amending the presidential term limit, he was most probably joking to make Vice President Jojo Binay nervous.

Binay has been salivating over the presidency and has announced his intention to run for the country’s highest post in the coming elections.

Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello, one of the most sensible and intelligent members of the House, is of the same mind: The President was joking.

“I think the President is just having a bit of fun, having his allies, the opposition and the media, hanging on to his every word. If I were in his place I’d get my  kicks the same way,” said Bello.

* * *

But joking aside, between extending BS (Benigno Simeon) Aquino’s term and having Binay as our next president, I would choose the term extension anytime.

Many people, especially those who belong to the intelligentsia, know Binay’s caliber  and would most likely choose the term extension.

The masses would vote for Binay whom they perceive to work for their welfare because he was a poor boy from the notorious Culi-Culi, once a red light district at the boundary of Makati City and Pasay City.

But Binay is no longer destitute.

He and members of his family, which includes his son Mayor Junjun, wife Elenita, a former mayor herself;  Rep. Abigail and Sen. Nancy  are already filthy rich.

Of course, the intelligentsia and most everyone know why, but the naïve masses don’t.

* * *

Chinese-Filipino rice trader Jojo Soliman has accused  National Food Authority Administrator Arthur Juan, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Food Security Secretary Kiko Pangilinan of extortion.

Soliman  said he gave P15 million to Juan and his assistant so his rice warehouse, which was raided by government agents last month, would be reopened and criminal charges against him dropped.

He said Juan told him the amount would be divided among him, Roxas and Pangilinan.

That means  P5 million for each of them.

Soliman’s accusation against Juan and Pangilinan is probably true, since Chinoys are usually scared of crossing swords with government people.

Chinoy businessmen would rather pay up and keep quiet rather than incur the ire—and more persecution or harassment—from the authorities.

But the accusation against Roxas is doubtful because to the interior secretary, P5 million is just loose change.

Remember, Roxas belongs to the old-rich Araneta clan that owns the Araneta Coliseum and Farmers’ Market  at their popular commercial complex in Cubao, Quezon City.