After being under the Marcos Dictatorship for 20 years, many kababayans have developed some sort of paranoia that whoever was the incumbent president would be doing what Marcos did — manipulate the system in order to go beyond the constitutionally mandated tenure for President and hold on to power for as long as possible.
This week, even President Benigno Aquino III did not escape such suspicion and paranoia, thanks to the “personal opinion” expressed by one of his most loyal supporter and cabinet member, DILG Secretary Mar Roxas.
On ANC’s “Beyond Politics,” Roxas tried to deflect the question on whether he will likely be Aquino’s anointed candidate in the next presidential elections by saying: “Kung ako lang ang tatanungin — at ito walang pahintulot sa Pangulo ito, wala ring konsultasyon sa partido ko ito, ito ako lang ito — dapat mas mahaba ang termino ni Pangulong PNoy kasi nakita na natin kung saan niya tayo dinala. At sino pa ba kundi siya ang pinakamabuti, pinakamahusay na makapagpatuloy nito.”
Roxas boldly stated that Aquino has proven himself as a clean reformist leader who has done a lot for the Filipino people, and argued that such kind of a leader is what the country still needs moving forward.
“Hindi corrupt, malinis… Walang ‘tong-pats.’ Walang issue sa pagbubulsa,” he said. “Sino pa ba kundi ang Pangulo na nakapagpakita na ng kanyang sinseridad, determinasyon, at kakayahan na gabayan tayo at dalhin tayo sa magandang bukas.”
But because the 1987 Constitution limits the president to only one six-year term, Roxas clarified that it would require an amendment to the Constitution to make Aquino hold on to the presidency beyond 2016.
Roxas is not alone in his “personal opinion.” On Facebook, a page “One More Term for PNoy” has been calling for the reelection of Aquino.
Even some kababayans in the United States clamor for Aquino to stay for another term, if the results of The Filipino Channel’s daily online poll is to be an indicator. Sixty-eight percent of those who voted say they will support a Constitutional change to extend President Aquino’s term.
However, it is important to note that there are also many others who probably did not vote in the online poll who disagree. A very vocal example is Art Garcia, community leader and advocate from Southern California.
“Ayaw ng mga Pinoy sa US ang 2nd term para kay Pnoy,” Garcia contended.
Malacañang has reiterated that President Aquino is committed to serve only one term. However, these speculations about Aquino’s re-election intensified when no less than Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda hinted otherwise.
Last Wednesday, Rappler.com quoted Lacierda saying: “While the matter has not been discussed in the Cabinet and the President has consistently opposed constitutional amendments, Aquino is also ‘sensitive to the voice of his bosses’ — the people.
But Aquino’s Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. was quick to clarify in a news briefing last Thursday that PNoy, in fact, has been counting the days and months left in his term. Coloma said never did it cross President Aquino’s mind to aspire or ask for another term because that will be in violation of the Constitution.
Coloma further said that if such calls for PNoy to seek a second term are in defense of his principled leadership, then Aquino “thanks them for their expression of support.”
Coloma was referring to PNoy’s call for people to wear yellow ribbon as a manifestation of their continued support for Aquino, despite the President’s declining approval rating as a result of the DAP controversy.
“One way to look at it is…feedback from the citizenry. If you remember this past month the President said he wants to know the sentiments of the people. Perhaps this can be seen as an aspect of expression of the people’s sentiments,” Coloma said, as reported by Rappler.
Would PNoy’s quest for “Daang Matuwid” be a compelling reason for kababayans to support any Constitutional amendment so Aquino could hold on to the Presidency beyond 2016?
Do you agree that PNoy should get a second term?
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
