Editor’s note: Any opinions expressed here are solely the author’s.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Malacañan and the vice president find each other at odds again over the issue of term limits — but it could very well be just a simple misunderstanding.
Palace officials said on Friday (July 17) that putting term limits to a public official’s stay in office was meant to prevent the rise of another strongman who would want to hold onto a lifetime of power — clearly alluding to the Marcos regime experience.
“Lifting terms limits opens the door to dictators who can abuse the resources of the State to stay in power, which was precisely the concern of the framers of the 1987 Constitution,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said.
But vice president’s camp clarified that this was not what VP Jejomar Binay said during a sortie in Negros Occidental.
Joey Salgado, head of the vice president’s media affairs, said that Binay did broach about amending the Constitution on the president’s term — but it was not about an “unlimited” stay in Malacañan.
The Constitution provides that the president cannot run for re-election after a six-year term.
However, instead of a single six-year term, Binay wanted a four-year term with a re-election for another four years, according to Salgado.
“For the vice president, six years is too long for a bad president and too short for a good one.”
Salgado added that it would be unfair for the people to suffer for six long years so they should be given a chance to do away with a bad leader or give a fresh mandate to an effective one after four years.
That settled, Salgado said Binay indeed wanted an “unli term” or “one to sawa” but only for local officials.
“As long as the people elect their leaders in an honest, free and credible election, they should not be restricted as to their choices.”
He noted that this was based on Binay’s own experience as a mayor of Makati for 20 years.
For his part, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) spokesman Mon Ilagan added that lifting term limits on local officials “will end the existing situation where relatives substitute for an incumbent to circumvent term limits.”
It can be noted that when Binay finished his first three consecutive terms as mayor, his wife, Dr. Elenita, took his place for one term from 1998 to 2001. But it was Binay again who was back in the saddle after his better half’s three-year tenure.
But even this idea did not sit well with the Palace, with Valte saying this scenario could lead to political dynasties.
Not that we don’t already have ones.
Binay making the rounds
Binay, who was going around Negros Occidental for a three-day sortie, told senior citizens in Bacolod City on Thursday (July 16) that he would do to the country what he did for Makati once elected as president.
Makati is a city known for its public hospitals and schools, like the Ospital ng Makati and the Makati Science Hgh School.
And aside from the famous, albeit controversial birthday cakes, Binay told senior citizens in Barangay Banago that he will give them false teeth or pustiso, adult diapers and… Viagra — to the amusement of a crowd of mostly elderly women.
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Binay, 72, was not the first presidentiable to mention the blue pill, male performance-enhancing medicine in front of supporters.
Last mid-June, Davao City Rodrigo Duterte, gave glowing praises for Viagra.
The two-fisted, 70-year-old mayor even quipped that he wanted to give Pfizer, the pill’s manufacturer, an award for keeping elderly sex life alive.
Meanwhile, Binay also promised to raise teachers’ salary in Murcia town on Saturday (July 18).
Binay said he would increase the entry pay of teachers from P18,000 to P33,000 per month if he makes it as the most powerful public official of the land.
