Had former President Cory Aquino not died on Aug. 1, 2009, her son, Benigno Aquino III would not be in Malacañang today.
At the time of Cory’s death, nine months before the May 2010 presidential elections, Noynoy Aquino, who had an unremarkable record as legislator (9 years as representative of the 2nd district of Tarlac and three years as senator), was not in anybody’s mind for the highest position in the land.
He was catapulted to the presidency by the people’s sympathy for his mother.
He owes his presidency to his mother.
Last Wednesday, in an interview with Mel Sta. Maria, TV5’s resident legal analyst, Aquino said, whereas before he was averse to amending the Constitution, he is now open to it as he wants the powers of the Supreme Court clipped.
On extension of his term that Interior Secretary Mar Roxas is pushing, he did not disapprove of it. He said he is listening to the people whom he refers to as his “boss.”
This is the transcript of that TV5 interview:
Sta. Maria: Sarado ba kayo sa pag-aamyenda ng Constitution hanggang ngayon?
Aquino: Bago nito, bago nangyari lahat ng ito, sarado….aminado ako .Pero ngayon, napapag-isip ako talaga… yung tinatawag na judicial reach. Yung kongreso, yung executive, kumilos kayo, pero anytime, puede namin kayong kastiguhin.
Yung kongreso, executive, kumilos kayo, pero anytime, puede namin kayong kastiguhin…at parang imbes na magkaroon ng tinatawag na judicial restraint, bihira lang ito ginagamit, parang masyadong madalas ginagamit, parang masyadong madalas ginagamit. Ngayon, yung balance between the three branches, tila nawala.
“Marami pang ibang provisions na pwedeng i-fine tune, pwedeng i-update. Kinakaba ko lang noong araw naman na baka ang magagandang provision baka ma-dilute.
On term extension, Aquino said: Nung pinasukan ko ito, ang tanda ko one term of six years…Ngayon, after having said that, syempre ang mga boss ko, kelangan kong pakinggan ‘yon.
Hindi naman ibig sabihin..na automatic na hahabol pa ako na magkaroon pa ako ng dagdag dito, ‘no?
On the fifth anniversary of Cory Aquino’s death last Aug. 1, the President’s office released a statement recalling her fight against the dictatorship.
The statement said:”Even after her presidency, she remained active in the country’s affairs—a true icon of democracy not just in name but in actions.”
One of the post-Malacanang activities that Cory Aquino led was a protest rally in Rizal Park on Sept. 21, 1997 against moves by then President Fidel Ramos of changing the Constitution through a People’s Initiative.
“Why? Because the President of the Philippines then wanted to change the Constitution so he could stay in power beyond the legal term.
“Fourteen years later, millions of Filipinos gathered in massive act of civil disobedience to send a single short message from this place: Tama na, sobra na…never mind the rest. One week later, His eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin called on those millions again to form a human shield around Fidel Ramos and Juan Ponce Enrile, because they had joined our fight for democracy.
“The flame of freedom burned again.
“Today, there is a dark wind blowing across our country again…the wind of ambition, a gathering storm of tyranny. We are here to shield that flame so that the light of democracy will not go out in our country again…..
“That is why we are here – to tell the people who want to stay in power, by martial law or Charter change; no way and never again. Do your worst, we will do our best to stop you. And we, the people will prevail.”
Since Aquino said he wants to hear from his “boss”, it would do him well to remember these words of his mother: “ Power intoxicates; too much power is addictive. And there will always be power drug dealers who will feed your habit as President.“They will say you are right, when you are wrong. They will say you are successful, when you fail, and will insist you are indispensable, although you are just one of 70 million Filipinos who gave you the rare privilege to be their servant but only for your elected term. They will say that nobody can take your place, when what they mean is that they do not want to give up their places.
“Let me tell you now, the presidency is so great an honor, no one deserves to have it again. It imposes a duty so important – to guide a whole country and protect a whole nation – that you must do it well. “And if you did it well, you won’t deserve to do it again. Doing your job well was your duty and not a special favor to the country.
“There is a secret I would like to share. The honor of the Presidency is so great, no one needs to have it more once. The honor sticks to you. A president is never forgotten, whether he is good or bad. Better to be remembered as good one.”
Very powerful message. Thanks.
Sino ba ang Boss niya.
Si Roxas, Si Abad or si Kris.
Kanino siya makikinig…
It’s a mistake if Pnoy thinks there’s a clamor from his bosses that he fool around with the constitution so he can extend his term.
Wonder which cabal came up with this ridiculous idea.
“Hindi naman ibig sabihin..na automatic na hahabol pa ako na magkaroon pa ako ng dagdag dito, ‘no?”
Nakakalito ba ang mensahe?
@Lurker #3, I think the President’s remarks were made in the context of his concerns about judicial overreach, and his mind is completely open to guidance from voters.
Consider this, the SC justices refuse to provide their SALN’s as required by law, deny that Executive has the authority to request them. Cut off House and Executive discretionary funds, but keep their own discretionary fund, and deny that either the House or Executive has authority to impede the “independence” of the Court.
The Court re-writes every law emerging from the Legislature and signed by the President, line by line. Rather than consider broad powers assigned to those bodies, and good intent.
If you were President, would you not be concerned that the courts are exercising too much authority, and curtailing powers of the other bodies of government? Whilst themselves being accountable to no one?
In that context, the President says, I’m open to solutions. If the people want an extension of presidential term, I’m open to it.
#5 “…….In that context, the President says, I’m open to solutions. If the people want an extension of presidential term, I’m open to it.”
i do agree. the peole. but who really are these people?
can he name one? two?
it is our RIGHT to know.
and being one those you always called you boss, mr. aquino, answer me WHO are these people? NOW!
“……..Hindi naman ibig sabihin..na automatic na hahabol pa ako na magkaroon pa ako ng dagdag dito, ‘no?”
noynoy, sino ba maysabi niyan? hindi ba’t ikaw? bakit kami ang tinatanong mo?
sige, okey. kung sakaling makalusot sa kongreso na baguhin o susugan ang saligang batas upang maaring muling kumandidato for another term and isang nakaupong presidente, WALA lang dayaan, ipangako n’yo ng mga nag-uudyok sa iyo papayag kaming tumakbo ka for another term AT ngayon pa lang pag-aralan mo nang balangkasin KUNG PAANO mo kami MULING uutuin sa iyong inaugural speech.
ano ba plano mo’ng bagong itatawag sa amin?
# 6 The better way to gauge the People wishes is to have a thorough Consultation via a nation wide hearings where every group, individual with stake at the nation’s future will be given the Chance to submit his own idea of what will be the amendments or reforms that are needed…
But it order to rid the perception of partiality and bias, the Commission must be made of up of a body of individuals with unquestionable independence and integrity…
That what we did when we prepared our Charter after we repatriated the British North America Act of l867 from Britain..it takes more than a year of Hearings and the Commission had to travel all over the country to conduct the hearings and believe 60 % of the peoples’ submission found their way to the FINAL DOCUMENT including Section 33 which give the Govt. and or Legislature to OVER Rule the Judicial Review power of the Supreme Court..
During the First Ministers Meeting, PM Trudeau did not want the Provision included in the Charter as it could be subjected to abuse because at that Time Quebec Separatism was it its Height and the Quebec National Assy. could invoke the Provision and enact any law that the SC can not review leading to itw easy way out of the Union…
But Justice Minister Chretien reminded Trudeau that the Charter is not only for the Specific issue of Quebec but for the next hundred of years of perhaps Thousands and give Trudeau a hypothetical Scene what if the Supreme Court Decriminalized HATE SPEECH under the Freedom of Speech, What to do? And the power to nullify the rulings of judicial review was embedded in the Charter Section 33 Canada Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Constitution Act of l982, the Notwithstanding Clause..
and Sure enough, the Quebec national assy invoked the Clause for three by just pre wording every Act it enacted “pursuant to Section 33 and the Separitist Party was KICKED OUT by the Electorate the next Election and the Practice was discontinued..the Check and balance…But who will check the over reaching SC if time will come that it will abuse its power or made a bad judgement either if bad faith or good faith? nobody if this power is not granted the Govt. and the Legislatures by the PEOPLE…IT will work as it works beautifully in our case,very beautiful..
just two days ago,,the Appeal Court uphold the lower court decision acquitting a fellow for serving medicinal Marijuana in Tea and Cookies, (he is a baker) and he argued that the patients have the choice how they will take their medicine..but instead of striking out the Legislation right away the Appeal court give the Parliament a year to amend the law to reflect the ruling or otherwise it will stand. the Govt. has to option to appeal the rulings to the SC of Canada or even invoked the over rule power, but the Feds has NEVER done it so far, not even in the Abortion decision, and in the case that legalize Same Sex where it was mandated to pay $billions in Pension benefits to survivors of same sex union (that was the case in the first place..the lawsuit against Pension Canada for not providing pensions of partners of same sex under the Equal Benefit under the law)but the Government abided as it could be checked by the Electorate if it also abuses its power to OVER RULE. Ses it works both ways.
#6 @MPRivera, you know, I’ve always been wondering that, too. The objective way is to survey. Second is to listen to his advisers who are reading the public tea leaves. Third is to listen to what the House says, for they represent the people. Fourth is to read the newspapers and get angry. Fifth is to listen to the beating of his own brain and conscience and hope it fits that of the people.
I don’t think he surveys. The House is political. I think he has stopped reading the sensationalist rags. So my guess is #2 and 5.
when a person in power wants to continue in power he will always find a reason but never saying thats what he want. it is the people who will suffer in the end for whatever mistakes their leaders commit but who is to blame but themselves, they put guy in power.
I think the president’s intention is good. I think the intention of his advisers is good. They all want another six years for the president because they don’t want daan matuwid to fall into the wrong hands.
But there’s no guarantee the president will win if he runs for reelection. And there’s no guarantee that if he runs and wins another six year term the presidency and daan matuwid will forever be safe.
The only sure thing if we change the constitutional provision on term limits is the next president will enjoy two (or more) terms. Now what if Aquino’s successor turns out to be an asshole?