Palace: Aquino not destroying parents' legacy with Cha-cha

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Thursday dismissed opinions that President Benigno Aquino III is destroying the legacy of his parents, the late democracy icons Ninoy and Cory Aquino, by entertaining Charter change.

Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said Aquino has been pursuing the principles of his parents as he reforms the nation through the "daang matuwid" (straight path).

"It is well known that the president has been doing his best to institute reforms that will bring about the transformation of Philippine society in keeping with his parents' legacy," Coloma said at a televised press briefing.

After consistently saying no to amending the Constitution, Aquino on Wednesday changed his position, admitting that the Charter is not perfect and some of its provisions may need to be updated and fine-tuned.

Aquino and his spokespersons said he listens to the "voice of his bosses" on the issue of Charter change.

He believes Charter change can clip the powers of the Supreme Court (SC), which he said has not been exercising restraint in checking the other branches of government.

He pointed out that the 1987 Constitution has allowed the high court to step into even political questions, unlike the SC that refuse to check the executive when Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in 1972.

Aquino's statements were slammed by militant groups, saying a second term for him and a weaker judiciary after Charter change are "ingredients for dictatorship."

Enacted during the administration of Aquino's mother, the 1987 Constitution has been described by some as reactive since it was made for the transition of the country from dictatorship to democracy.

With its perceived goal to dismantle the mechanisms of the Marcos dictatorship, the 1987 Constitution introduced checks and balances in the government.