Noy contradicts ally, says he’s open to fresh term

MANILA, Philippines - Contrary to what an ally claimed, President Aquino said yesterday he is still open to seeking a fresh term.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon said over the weekend that when he attended a meeting at Malacañang last Wednesday, Aquino had told members of the ruling coalition that he was not interested in seeking reelection.

Lifting the President’s single, six-year term limit will require amending the Constitution. Lawmakers, however, are cool to political Charter change and are instead working on lifting certain economic provisions to make the country more competitive in a globalized economy.

Sources said Aquino told his allies last Friday that they would all step down as scheduled at the end of their term at noon of June 30, 2016.

Flying out of Madrid in Spain yesterday, however, Aquino told reporters that he had not ruled out a second term.

‘Desperate’

An opposition lawmaker said yesterday he was not surprised by Aquino’s statement, noting that the President was “desperate to evade prosecution.”

Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon was referring to Aquino’s latest statement to the media that he “might do even better in a second term.”

The lawmaker said Aquino and members of his Cabinet are liable for plunder and technical malversation for the P144-billion Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), parts of which were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

He said Aquino and his Cabinet members are becoming desperate as they know they have “committed criminal acts through the assailed DAP.”

“They want to evade prosecution, and that’s why they’re pushing for a second term for the President even if it involves Charter change,” he said. – With Paolo Romero