Palace on term extension: Ask the President himself

Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Saturday declined to comment on the statement of Vice President Jejomar Binay criticizing those calling on President Benigno Aquino III to seek a second term, saying it was a “selfish proposal… motivated by personal rather than national interest.”

“I’m not quite sure who the Vice President was pertaining to. But I’m quite certain that it’s probably not the ordinary citizens who have been expressing their thoughts on the matter,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over government-run Radyo ng Bayan.

Binay has announced his intention to seek the presidency in 2016. His statement is believed to be pertaining to Interior Secretary Mar Roxas who had said he wants to see President Aquino have a second term owing to the reforms in government that he has implemented.

Roxas is the presumptive standard bearer of the Liberal Party in 2016.

President Aquino has yet to address the supposed clamor himself.

Valte said there was a possibility of the President answering the hot topic when he makes himself available for press interviews.

“If one of you asks him, let’s see what he’s going to say… The best opportunity is [to ask him] during his regular press interview,” Valte said.

It has been more than a month since President Aquino granted an interview with the Palace press corps.

He has not met with the media since the Supreme Court decision that struck down provisions of the Disbursement Allocation Program (DAP) as unconstitutional.

Valte also declined to comment on the possibility that President Aquino’s allies in Congress would propose to amend the Constitution to allow him to seek another term.

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