Erice withdraws political Charter change bill

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice bowed to the request of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to withdraw his political Charter change bill, which seeks to extend the President’s term limits in the Constitution.

In a privilege speech on Tuesday, Erice said Belmonte talked to him and asked him to withdraw his bill so that the chamber could focus on the Speaker’s Resolution of Both Houses 1, which seeks to ease the foreign ownership restrictions in the Charter.

“Nais kong linawin na ako’y sang-ayon sa payo ni Speaker Belmonte na huwag ko pong isabay sa pagtalakay sa House Resolution 1 na patungkol sa economic provisions ang aking panukala tungkol sa political provisions ng Konstitusyon,” Erice said.

(I would like to clarify that I agree to the request of Speaker Belmonte that I should not file my bill seeking to amend the political provisions of the Constitution, alongside his bill seeking to amend the charter’s economic provisions.)

Erice’s plan is to amend the single, six-year term limit for the President and replace it with a double four-year term with reelection. This is meant to allow Aquino, who he calls an “honest leader,” another shot for reelection in 2016.

The proposed measure also includes amending the terms of senators and representatives to a maximum of three 4-year term. Under the Constitution, a senator could be elected to two six-year term while a representative could be elected to three three-year term.

Meanwhile, Belmonte’s bill, which is in the plenary for debates, aims to insert the phrase “unless otherwise provided for by law” in the pertinent provisions on foreign ownership.

Erice then assured that he will not insert political amendments to the Charter in Belmonte’s bill.

“Muli kong ipapahayag na hindi ko na isa-submit ang panukalang amendment sa political provisions ng Constitution… Makakaasa kayo na walang surpresa sa pagtalakay ng House Resolution 1,” Erice said.

(I will no longer submit my proposal to amend the political provisions in the Constitution… Rest assured, there will be no surprises in the discussions on House Resolution 1.)
In a recent radio interview, President Aquino said he was not after a second term, contrary to what he said in an earlier television interview when he said he is open to it if the people want it.

“Am I the one who has this ambition to extend my term?… As I said when I first ran for office, ‘I’m no masochist,’” Aquino said in Filipino.

But Aquino noted that some people have approached him about their wish for him to extend his term, and that he will always listen to the clamor of his constituents.

RELATED STORIES

What is the reason in proposing an Aquino term extension 

Term extension for Aquino ‘undemocratic’ – Macalintal