President Benigno Aquino III. AP FILE PHOTO
A political analyst has alleged that President Benigno Aquino III is just waiting for the end of his term in June 2016 while failing to push for the reforms he has promised to Filipinos.
In an interview aired over Radyo Inquirer on Tuesday, University of the Philippines-Diliman professor and political analyst Dr. Clarita Carlos said that 11 months before the end of his term, Aquino should pass the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill and other measures which have been languishing in Congress.
“For God’s sake, for the next 11 months he has full authority of the chief executive, of the president, of the Rrepublic of the Philippines. For God’s sake Mr. President,push for the passage of the FOI that you have promised once upon a time when you were campaigning, since you still have the numbers in both houses. Push for the modernization of the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation), PNP (Philippine National Police), the Magna Carta for the Elderly. He can still do many things until June 3, 2016,”
Asked if the President can still accomplish these things, Carlos said that she is saddened that Aquino seems to be content on his “pre-retirement.”
“Well, that’s the other question whether or not he’s going to do it since he seems to be in pre-retirement mode and that’s very sad. He is just wasting the remaining months,” she said.
READ: Bishop hits Aquino’s ‘lame-duck leadership’
Malacañang has earlier denied that Aquino is a lame-duck president following his soaring satisfaction and trust ratings.
READ: Aquino no ‘lame duck’ as ratings rise
The results of the recent Social Weather Stations survey showed that Aquino’s satisfaction rating jumped to 57 percent from 45 percent last March. The results of a Pulse Asia survey released on Monday, meanwhile, showed that he is the second most trusted government official after Vice President Jejomar Binay.
READ: Aquino satisfaction rating improves after all-time low – SWS
“Many pundits have predicted that with the previous survey numbers that he is a lame duck. This quarter’s survey numbers prove otherwise,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda earlier said. With a report from Arianne F. Merez, INQUIRER.net intern/IDL