Aquino says he’s done with politics when he steps down in 2016

President Benigno Aquino III. AFP FILE PHOTO

He’s retiring from politics when he steps down from office on June 30, 2016, President Benigno Aquino III told some 10,000 participants of a youth summit on Friday.

“By 2016, I am retired from politics,” Mr. Aquino told members of Kristiyanong Kabataan Para sa Bayan, the youth arm of Jesus Is Lord Church during its Worldwide Youth Summit.

But before retiring, he wants to ensure that the country would be in much better shape than when he first took over in 2010, the President added, citing the need for young people to have a sense of purpose despite the many distractions offered them by the social media.

“There are more (distractions) during your time now that there was during my time. But here you are going toward something with meaning, something of value and something that will redound to others’ benefit. Given that, why shouldn’t I support the things that you are undertaking … we ask ourselves what is the purpose of all the things we do?” Mr. Aquino said.

He added: “I have nephews (and nieces) around your age. Definitely that is my motive force. Will they go through what I had gone through? Will we just watch the teleseryes that don’t end and the stories (that) are just repeated?” he asked his audience.

“Or perhaps you should be able to have higher goals because we already did what we had to do before we passed on to you the responsibility (of running the country),” the President said.

A few months ago, Mr. Aquino appeared to toy briefly with the idea of seeking a second term to ensure the continuation of his administration’s gains, given the poor survey ratings of the Liberal Party’s presumptive presidential candidate, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.

RELATED STORIES

Aquino wants ‘broader picture’ of 2016 landscape

Aquino: No consensus yet on LP bet in 2016