Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Malacañan on Wednesday (June 10) rejected Vice President Jejomar Binay’s earlier position to lift the term limit by allowing a president to run again.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said President Benigno Aquino III firmly believes on a single term since the president can focus on all that needs to be done within the six-year term.
Lacierda added that this is exactly what Aquino is doing right now as he pointed out that the president doesn’t have to wait for another four years to make good on his promises on the first four years.
“His responsibility after the six years is to ensure that good governance prevails during the six years, so that the people will want to see an extension of those six years by way of his successor, and for that particular reason we ask the question: Have you seen the benefits of ‘daang matuwid?’ And if so, would you like ‘daang matuwid’ to continue?”
Binay said earlier in the day that he is open to amending the Constitution removing the term limits of the president and vice president. He explained that the government’s top two posts should be given four-year terms with reelection instead of the current six-year limit with no reelection.
Aquino, however, turned down the idea of term extension during his recent state visit to Japan, saying that prolonging the president’s term could lead to another dictatorship.
