Palace: Aquino ‘listening’ as survey shows more people reject 2nd term

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—With more people expressing opposition to another term for President Benigno Aquino III, the Palace said Thursday that he would continue to listen to the voice of his “bosses.”

Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma issued the statement after a Pulse Asia survey revealed that six out of 10 Filipinos or 62 percent do not want a second term for President Benigno Aquino III should the 1987 Constitution be amended.

“Patuloy ang ginagawang pakikinig ng Pangulo sa pagpapahiwatig ng saloobin ng mga mamamayan alinsunod sa layuning patatagin ang reporma at gawing ganap ang transpormasyon sa ating lipunan,” Coloma said.

(The President continues to listen to the opinion of the people in accordance with the goal of the government to strengthen reform and transform the society.)

Listening to the people, he said, is a continuing process the President has committed to undertake as part of his stewardship as the Chief Executive of the land.

“Ang layunin ng Pangulo ay malaman sa lahat ng pagkakataon kung ano ang saloobin at tinig ng mga mamamayan at para naman makatugon sa tamang paraan ng kanyang administrasyon, lalo na sa aspeto ng pagpapahusay ng pamamalakad o ‘yung good governance, at ‘yung pagpapatupad ng mga reporma,” he said.

(The goal of the President is to know at all times the opinion and the voice of the people to address things the right way and to strengthen good governance and the implementation of reform.)

“Therefore, we take the position that the voice of the people ought to be heard; the voice of the people ought to be listened to as a basis for decision-making,” he added.

Coloma, however, said that Malacañang would respect the moves of Congress to amend the Constitution particularly its economic provisions.

“Iginagalang namin ang proseso ng Kongreso hinggil sa panukalang pag-amyenda sa economic provisions ng ating Saligang Batas. Wala pang ipinapahayag na pagbabago ang Pangulo sa kanyang pananaw hinggil dito.

(We are respecting the process undertaken by Congress to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution. The President has not changed his stand regarding this.)

Calls for Aquino’s re-election or term extension first surfaced online with netizens posting “One More Term” photos on Aquino’s official Facebook page.

Malacañang, however, has not given a categorical answer about the term extension issue, saying only that Aquino would listen to what the people want.

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