MANILA: Vice-President Jejomar Binay yesterday criticised again the moves that seek to extend the term of President Benigno Aquino III.
In a speech after receiving a medal of valour from the Ninoy Aquino Movement, Binay urged Filipinos who fought the Marcos dictatorship to be active in stopping the “insidious plan” for Charter change.
He also warned that the country’s democracy will be at risk if the constitutional provision empowering the Supreme Court to rule on grave abuse of discretion will be amended.
He said that the democracy is in peril due to the whispers of cronies who want to stay in power after 2016 and are pushing for the amendment of the constitution to remove the term limit of the president and lessen the authority of the Supreme Court.
“Checks and balance are the foundations of democracy and the Constitution has mandated with the judiciary to invoke the power to determine whether or not there has been grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the government,” he added.
Aquino had declared his openness to amend the Constitution to clip the powers of the judiciary after the Supreme Court unanimously declared as partially unconstitutional the Disbursement Acceleration Program of his administration.
On amending the constitutional six-year term limit for the president, Aquino said he will listen to his bosses - the Filipino people.
Though Aquino is open to possibilities, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte later stated in a press briefing that Aquino’s statement does not necessarily mean that he wants to amend the Constitution during his term.
It was Binay’s opponent in the 2010 elections, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who said Aquino’s term should be extended so he may continue his own reforms.
Binay criticised Roxas’ idea, branding it as “politically divisive” and “selfish.”
In a statement last week, Binay said Aquino should listen to the “authentic and genuine voice” of the nation and not the one “manufactured by quarters with vested interests who are driven mainly by self-preservation.”
THE PHILIPPINE STAR
