Term extension 'to change P-Noy image from reformer to trapo’

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno S. Aquino III would be remembered as a traditional politician or “trapo” eaten by the same system he tried to change if he pushes for charter amendments that would extend his term, experts said. 

Image consultant and author Lloyd Luna said Aquino’s openness to another term was “a total disconnect and an exact opposite of what we expect from him.” 

“His (Aquino) plan made an impression that we all got it wrong, that we thought he's not the same like Marcos, Ramos and Arroyo. We elected him because we thought he is different,” he said.

Former President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law and stayed in power for 20 years while former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Gloria Arroyo backed attempts to lift the term limits in the 1987 Constitution. 

Luna said Aquino’s once trustworthy brand has been tainted with doubt.

“In effect, his sincerity before may be perceived as yet another traditional political move more than a genuine leadership,” he said. “He will be marked as a Philippine president eaten by the same system that he has been trying hard to change for the better.”

Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform, agreed, saying a term extension would tarnish Aquino’s image as a reformer and would bring him down to the level of traditional politicians.

“The campaign will consume his last two years in office. The critics will have a field day and will be in a position to diminish further his popularity. Both his legacy and that of his parents will also be tarnished or even negated,” Casiple said.

Change of heart

Last month, Aquino told News 5 that he is open to charter change and a second term to continue the reforms started by his administration. He also complained about the so-called judicial reach, which he claimed, enabled the Supreme Court to meddle with political questions. 

Aquino made the statement after the Supreme Court had declared as unconstitutional some actions under his disbursement acceleration program (DAP), which, critics claimed, was used to influence the outcome of the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Before the court issued the ruling, Aquino was against any amendment to the 1987 Constitution, which was promulgated during the term of his mother, the late president and democracy icon Corazon “Cory” Aquino. 

Malacañang officials said Aquino would first listen to his “bosses” or the public before making a final decision on term extension.

Sonny Africa, executive director of think tank Ibon Foundation, said Aquino’s recent statements reflect patronage politics “clothed in 21st century good governance rhetoric.”

“President Aquino has only established that his administration is still about old-type personalistic and patronage politics. To argue that continuity depends on the persistence of specific politicians, such as the president himself, rather than on political parties is completely about personalistic politics,” he added.

Africa said good governance is not about personalities but building democratic institutions and following democratic processes.

‘Act like a mortal’

Melencio Sta. Maria, Dean of Far Eastern University Institute of Law said there is nothing wrong with Aquino’s openness to charter change.

“Let us keep in mind that the Constitution made under Cory’s term can be amended if really needed. It was what Cory and those who drafted the Constitution had signed,” Sta, Maria said.

“There is nothing wrong there. It is not illegal. It is not against the legacy of Cory. The president has his own independent perspective like any other president, like his mother,” he added.

Sta. Maria, however, believes Aquino would not run for re-election.

“His experience in life, history of their family, everything he has been through to achieve the presidency, he is not running again. This is enough for him,” he said.

Antonio Contreras, a political science professor at the De La Salle University, said the DAP issue, which prodded Aquino to change his mind on charter change, has spawned criticisms of the way he deals with opposing views.

“Criticisms against him (Aquino) have been invigorated by depicting him as someone who does not respect institutions like the constitution, and who has tendencies of arguing that the end justifies the means,” said Contreras.

“He should begin to act like a mortal, that he is not infallible, and should be more a unifier than a divisive leader. He should stop labeling his critics as anti-reform. Many of his critics are also for reform,” he added. 

Not yet too late 

While Aquino has been receiving tirades because of DAP and his openness to a second term, experts believe he still has time to redeem his image.

“Part of the history, yes he will be known as someone who violated the Constitution since it (DAP) is the cause of what is happening now. But it will not totally tarnish his good record,” said campaign manager and image consultant Butch Arellano.

“I believe, he will recover with this soon,” he added.

Bobby Tuazon of the Center for People Empowerment in Governance noted that past presidents began their term with a relatively high or positive rating only to plunge by the time they step down from office.

“Aquino’s rating began to slide as early as 2011 – with some periods of recovery - and it’s foreseeable based on this trend that it will further dip in two years. But he is still the president until June 2016.

“Being PR (public relations)-conscious, the president will be concerned with recovering his credibility on this final stretch but to add meaning to his remaining term there are things that he can still do,” he added.  

Tuazon said Aquino should be able to complete the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, resume negotiations with the communists, and push for the enactment of anti-dynasty and Freedom of Information Act.

Luna believes the president should make a categorical statement that he is not prolonging his stay in power.

“Go out and tell the Philippines that this is what we can only do in six years. I am not seeking another term. I am done. And I will leave this office knowing that I did everything that I could, if that is even true,” he added.

Contreras said Aquino is already entering the lame duck phase of his term, where he would gradually lose influence and control.

“The controversies have further made his lame duck status more precarious. He is now a wounded lame duck,” Contreras said.

“His last year and 10 months will be very challenging to him, more so if his numbers in surveys keep declining.  His allies and Congress may begin to desert him once they feel that he is losing his influence and his endorsement may no longer hold punch,” he added.

Contreras said it is too early to tell whether Aquino’s last years would redeem him or cement his legacy as one of failed reform.

“It all now depends on how he will behave in the last year and 10 months of his term,” he said.