Pension hike veto fallout temporary – LP

MANILA, Philippines – Any fallout from President Aquino’s widely criticized move to veto the Congress-approved higher pension for Social Security System (SSS) retirees would only be temporary for Liberal Party (LP) candidates, a senior administration lawmaker said yesterday.

Marikina City Rep. Romero Quimbo, a stalwart of the LP, said Aquino continues to enjoy high ratings despite nearing the end of his term because Filipinos have accepted his penchant for making unpopular but correct decisions.

He was commenting on warnings that the veto on the P2,000 pension increase for SSS members would harm the campaign of LP presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II, who is hard at work to boost his survey ratings.

 “There may be some backlash especially to Mar and the LP slate, but I’m certain that it will be temporary,” Quimbo said, referring to the LP standard bearer by his surname.

“Being part of the LP coalition, as we’ve previously shown, is both an advantage and responsibility,” he said.

Quimbo said the administration’s daang matuwid advocacy means doing the right thing, popular or not.

He said Aquino remains the President until June 30 so “he does not give up this position to become the LP’s campaign manager just because it’s election time.”

LP vice presidential candidate and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo admitted the veto could harm the chances of winning of LP candidates but said it was apparently the right thing to do.

“It’s true administration candidates might suffer (the consequences) but for us, I think the President did what he had to do,” Robredo told reporters. “The easiest thing for him to do would be to approve it.”

Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas, also an LP stalwart, lamented the issue would be certainly used against Roxas.

“But knowing President Aquino, his commitment to do what is right for the country is paramount over personal politics,” Treñas said.

“The President’s decision to make this very hard decision knowing pretty well that he would look really bad including his candidates in 2016 election only demonstrates his courage as a leader and genuine concern for our nation,” he said.

But Quimbo and Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas said other measures can be taken to increase pension while the bill authorizing the SSS to hike contributions is still pending.

The lawmakers said the increase in pension may be proportional to the length of membership in the SSS.