Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines鈥擟aloocan Representative Edgar Erice bowed to the request of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to withdraw his political Charter change bill, which seeks to extend the President鈥檚 term limits in the Constitution.
In a privilege speech on Tuesday, Erice said Belmonte talked to him and asked him to withdraw his bill so that the chamber could focus on the Speaker鈥檚 Resolution of Both Houses 1, which seeks to ease the foreign ownership restrictions in the Charter.
鈥淣ais kong linawin na ako鈥檡 sang-ayon sa payo ni Speaker Belmonte na huwag ko pong isabay sa pagtalakay sa House Resolution 1 na patungkol sa economic provisions ang aking panukala tungkol sa political provisions ng Konstitusyon,鈥� Erice said.
(I would like to clarify that I agree to the request of Speaker Belmonte that I should not file my bill seeking to amend the political provisions of the Constitution, alongside his bill seeking to amend the charter鈥檚 economic provisions.)
Erice鈥檚 plan is to amend the single, six-year term limit for the President and replace it with a double four-year term with reelection. This is meant to allow Aquino, who he calls an 鈥渉onest leader,鈥� another shot for reelection in 2016.
The proposed measure also includes amending the terms of senators and representatives to a maximum of three 4-year term. Under the Constitution, a senator could be elected to two six-year term while a representative could be elected to three three-year term.
Meanwhile, Belmonte鈥檚 bill, which is in the plenary for debates, aims to insert聽the phrase 鈥渦nless otherwise provided for by law鈥� in the pertinent provisions on foreign ownership.
Erice then assured that he will not insert political amendments to the Charter in Belmonte鈥檚 bill.
鈥淢uli kong ipapahayag na hindi ko na isa-submit ang panukalang amendment sa political provisions ng Constitution鈥� Makakaasa kayo na walang surpresa sa pagtalakay ng House Resolution 1,鈥� Erice said.
(I will no longer submit my proposal to amend the political provisions in the Constitution鈥� Rest assured, there will聽be no surprises in the discussions on House Resolution 1.)
In a recent radio interview, President Aquino said he was not after a second term, contrary to what he said in an earlier television interview when he said he is open to it if the people want it.
鈥淎m I the one who has this ambition to extend my term?鈥� As I said when I first ran for office, 鈥業鈥檓 no masochist,鈥欌�� Aquino said in Filipino.
But Aquino noted that some people have approached him about their wish for him to extend his term, and that he will always listen to the clamor of his constituents.
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