4-year term with re-election option for president, VP eyed

MANILA, Philippines - Charter change advocate and Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice would propose in a resolution that he would file this month to set the term of the president and vice president at four years with one opportunity for reelection.

He would also propose to set the term of senators, congressmen and local officials at four years with a maximum of three terms.

Erice said if the resolution would be passed and approved in a plebiscite, winners in the 2016 elections would start their four-year terms, which means senators whose terms expire in 2019 would have their term extended for a year.

The next elections, in Erice’s proposal, would be in 2020.

He also suggested that a provision against political turncoatism be included in the amendments to the Constitution, as well as a provision to compel Congress to enact an anti-political dynasty law within six months after the amendments are approved.

Erice also dismissed assertions from his senior colleagues in the Liberal Party (LP) that his campaign to amend the political provisions of the Constitution to allow President Aquino to seek another term would not succeed in the House of Representatives.

Erice, one of the few LP lawmakers openly pushing for an extension of Aquino’s term, said he was unfazed by the prediction of his partymates.

“Let’s see, anything can happen. You can never tell in politics, anyway, I’m just one member of the House,” Erice said.

He noted that based on his initial consultations with his constituents, about 60 percent are in favor of another term for Aquino.

“There’s no campaign yet for lifting of term limits, but many are in favor. Some are in favor but don’t want the Constitution to be amended,” he added.

Erice suggested that Malacañang commission a survey to gauge the public opinion on Aquino’s statement on Wednesday that he’s open to seeking a second term. Commissioning a poll, however, is expensive so he might seek the help of some of his friends so he may be able to commission one.

He also said he would monitor the turnout of the protest rally expected on Aug. 25 whether the opposition to extending Aquino’s term is widespread or not.

But as talks on the possibility of Charter change roam the halls of Congress, militant students have already slammed the statement of Aquino that he is open to Constitutional reform and extension of his term.

“There is no such clamor for term extension from his bosses who are angry with the widespread corruption under his helm. We’ve had enough of failed promises. Corruption and term extension are utterly unacceptable and must go,” Youth Act Now-Metro Manila spokesman Christian Lloyd Magsoy said in a statement.

League of Filipino Students national spokesperson Charlotte Velasco earlier said that Aquino seemed to think that the people were clamoring for his re-election.

“The megalomaniac President should stop his illusions and false propaganda about how the people want him to stay longer in power. We all know whose plan is this in the first place,” Velasco said.

The youth group also challenged the Aquino administration to disclose where the funds for the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) went.

The group said they would join thousands of Filipinos who would participate in the protest rally “Stand Up, Sign Up Against All Pork” at the Luneta Park in Manila on Aug. 25. The rally would mark the first anniversary of the Million People March.

“We challenge the Aquino administration to audit DAP and show the people where our money was spent and penalize everyone who was involved,” Magsoy said.

“As for the people, DAP means Dapat kay Aquino, Panagutin. Until he and his associates are held accountable, the people will continue to intensify their voices calling for genuine social change,” he added.

The participating schools for the Aug. 25 protest include Adamson University, Technological University of the Philippines, Philippine Normal University, Philippine Women’s University, Philippine Christian University, Far Eastern University, National University, Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology and Polytechnic University of the Philippines.