P-Noy says ‘no’ to term extension

President Aquino views the message of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, written on Nov. 13,1986 at the guest room of the Nippon Press Center Building for the Press Event with the Japan National Press Club.

TOKYO — President Benigno Aquino III has dismissed anew the prospect of amending the Constitution to pave the way for a term extension, warning that such move courts the danger of installing another dictator.

Confronted with domestic issues in an engagement with Japanese journalists yesterday morning, Aquino again brushed aside proposals for a Charter change (Cha-cha) just so he could stay in power longer.

It was during martial law that he lost his father, the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., a staunch critic of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

“My answer to those who were espousing an extension of terms was, we will undoubtedly have benefits for having a government that will not have to relearn how to govern, but at the same time we open the doors to somebody who might emulate Marcos and decide not to leave the office forever,” the President said.

“And I think that is a very serious risk that our country, or my country, has to avoid,” he added.

“So I ask that we not consider reopening the Constitution for term limits.”

During his state visit here, President Aquino was several times asked who he thought would be his best successor, and how the Philippines could guarantee that the gains of his administration could be sustained under a new leader.

“When will I endorse? I promised our people I was hoping the end of June, but now it seems that I have to, by law, deliver a State of the Nation Address, which is (on) the last Monday of July, and it will be shortly after that that I will endorse the person to our electorate, to our people, as the person I believe who can carry out the continuity,” said the President. /INQUIRER.NET