MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday criticized again the moves that seek to extend the term of President Benigno Aquino III.
In a speech after receiving a medal of valor 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.
"Ang ating demokrasya ay muling nanganganib dahil sa pag-udyok sa ating Pangulo ng ibang gustong manatili sa puder ng kapangyarihan pagkatapos ng 2016 na itulak ang pag-amyenda sa saligang batas upang tanggalin ang limit sa termino ng Pangulo at bawasan ang kapangyarihan ng ating Korte Suprema," Binay said in his televised speech.
"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.
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 criticized 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." -Louis Bacani