Binay open to lifting term limits for president, vice president

Vice President Jejomar Binay: Six years too short for good president. CDN FILE PHOTO

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday said he was open to Charter change (Cha-cha) to remove term limits for the president and vice president and to modify economic provisions in the nation’s basic law.

Binay said that instead of the current six-year limit with no reelection, the president and vice president should be given four-year terms with reelection.

“Sa simula’t simula pa lang, hindi na ako payag sa pag-limit ng term. Hangga’t gusto ng taumbayan, eh di manilbihan (From the start, I have been against term limits. As long as the people want them, let them serve),” Binay said.

“Six years is too long for a bad president, too short for a good one. Ibalik na lang yung four years with reelection,” (Bring back the four years with reelection) he added.

In his state visit to Japan, Aquino dismissed the prospect of amending the Constitution to extend his term, saying that it could pave the way for another dictator leading the country.

“We will undoubtedly have benefits for having a government that will not have to relearn how to govern but we open doors to somebody who might emulate Mr. (Ferdinand) Marcos and not leave the office forever,” Aquino said.

Marcos ruled the country from 1965 up to 1986 when he was ousted through the first “People Power” revolution.

Meanwhile, Binay expressed support to amend the Constitution’s economic provisions to ease foreign ownership restrictions.

“Ako ay sang-ayon sa pag-aalis ng 60 (percent ownership to Filipinos)-40 (percent on foreign investments)…para dumami ang investors,” he said.

An economic Cha-cha bill pending in Congress is expected to soon pass third and final reading in the House of Representatives.

Under a resolution of both houses, the phrase “unless otherwise provided for by law” will be inserted to the provision granting 60-percent ownership to Filipinos and 40-percent on foreign investments.

If passed, the resolution would allow the amending of the Constitution through mere legislation by both chambers of Congress, subject to a plebiscite.