Palace: Noy committed to serve one term

MANILA, Philippines - A Malacañang official assured the people that President Aquino has committed himself to serve only one term, with 696 days left in his presidency.

“Maraming nagsasabi sana (Many are saying and hoping) six more years. But the President has committed himself to one term,” Lacierda said, referring to the constitutional prohibition on a second term for the President, coupled with Aquino’s refusal to extend his fixed term.

Malacañang disclosed yesterday that many people want Aquino to serve for another six years for him to be able to finish what he started, even if the 1987 Constitution provides only for one six-year term.

“There are some people who would like the President to extend his term and this is a commentary... an observation, a sentiment that has been made known to us even before,” Lacierda told Palace reporters.

Lacierda said the administration has nothing to do with the online petition seeking the re-election of Aquino, noting that they have in fact put up calendars in their respective offices counting down the remaining days of the Aquino presidency.

“We are counting down the number of days left under this administration. So it’s not coming from us. We’re looking forward to the day that we’ll be passing on this government to another equally transformative, transparent administration,” he said.

Lacierda said the sentiments for Aquino to extend his term are nothing new.

“In my case, personally, people will just approach me and say: Sana si PNoy meron pang anim na taon…

“But these are people who just voice their sentiments because they see the effect of this administration on the people. Some may have a different view, understandably. But as far as the President is concerned, we have 696 days left in this administration,” he added.

Lacierda said they would not want to bother to investigate who is behind the online petition since they have more pressing problems to address in the remaining two years of the Aquino administration.

“The Constitution clearly states that each elected president can only have one six-year term. Whatever they say, the Constitution will prevail,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Herminio Coloma Jr. told government radio station dzRB on Sunday.

The pro-Aquino Internet comments cite “good governance” even as the President is facing record low public trust and satisfaction ratings due to controversial budgeting policies.

Coloma described the online comments as “spontaneous.”