Rekindling Cha-cha

At this early stage of his administration, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has ostensibly started his countdown in office. He was, in fact, very precise in his count that he still has 65 months left of his term. The President mentioned this in his brief speech at the awarding rites of the “People of the Year” organized by the People Asia Magazine and held on Monday night at the Hotel Sofitel in Roxas Boulevard.

He was obviously in a hurry and agreed only to hand over a special award to Raissa Dawn Laurel. She is the brave law student whose two legs were amputated after being severely damaged by the grenade throwing incident that marred the traditional merry-making at the end of the Bar examinations held last year in De La Salle University, Taft Ave., Manila.

Mr. Aquino arrived exactly at 7 p.m. as the special guest of the affair to present the awards. He left 30 minutes after his speech amid a whirlwind of handshaking and photo-taking opportunities. Vice President Jejomar Binay, who was also invited to the affair, lived up to his role as official “spare tire” and took over the duty of presenting the awards to the rest of the awardees.

The Chief Executive’s official schedule, I was told, was really fully booked that day. But the mention of Raissa being one of the 14 awardees made the President to give it priority. He asked his appointments secretary to find a way to include the People Asia Magazine awarding ceremonies in his schedule even for a few minutes. But he would be made to confer one award, only to Raissa. The other awardees were made to have a group photo with President Aquino before he left to go to his next appointment.

Now wheelchair-bound, Raissa was a picture of a very hopeful young woman while accepting her award from the President. It was the second time Raissa met the Commander-in-Chief, and this time, it was on a happier note. He personally visited Raissa at the hospital last year while she was recuperating from her blast injury.

In his brief remarks, President Aquino cited that Raissa has specially become a source of inspiration for him, and added the rest of the awardees just to be diplomatic about it. “In the midst of my most trying times, I will be inspired by Raissa and all of you who overcame your own challenges,” the President cited.

The Chief Executive conceded there would be times when the challenges ahead will seem insurmountable and moments when he falls short of the expectations of the Filipino people. Thus, President Aquino made an impassioned appeal for the “People of the Year” awardees like Raissa to help him accomplish his tasks and responsibilities for the Filipino nation.

“No one man can do this alone. But in your own ways, as you continue to display the professionalism and excellence that won you tonight’s recognition, you will be making my job easier,” the President pointed out. “The Filipino people have tasked me to lead this nation towards progress, and that I will do tirelessly,” he vowed.

“When I step down from office in 2016, and that’s about 65 months from now, I hope to do so with the idea that we have done our jobs — that our countrymen live in a society more prosperous, more peaceful, and more honest compared to what we had in July 2010,” President Aquino said.

This was the second time in a matter of a few days apart that President Aquino reiterated he would serve his office at the end of his term — no more, no less. Only last Saturday, he underscored the same before a gathering of local government officials.

Even during the presidential campaign last year, Mr. Aquino has taken a stand he would support efforts to amend the country’s 1987 Constitution only through Constitutional Convention (Con-con). That is the official stand of his own Liberal Party (LP) for a Con-con that would be composed of elected members to undertake the amendments of the Constitution.

His allies and detractors in Congress were quick to jump at the presidential statement as a go-signal to push new moves to revive Charter change (Cha-cha). Since President Aquino declared he won’t accede to any extension of his term in office, it would be the best opportunity to undertake amendments of the Constitution, Eastern Samar (LP) Rep. Ben Evardone cited.

On the other hand, some of his staunch defenders interpreted his words as an open declaration that he won’t follow the step of his immediate predecessor, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. After more than nine years in office at the Palace, ex-President Arroyo ran and won as now Congresswoman of her home province in Lubao, Pampanga.

But Mr. Aquino was not explicit really on what he would do after the end of his term. He would be just 56 years old by 2016. By the way, our 50-year old bachelor is turning a year older on Feb. 8.

Official Palace spokespersons doused cold waters on the Cha-cha. And this is bolstered by the fact that Cha-cha measures are not among those in the Palace “wish list” of proposed legislations that President Aquino wanted the 15th Congress to consider as priority bills they must attend to this year.

Both different interpretations of the very simple presidential statement on stepping down from office at the end of his term were obviously extrapolations. However, it consequently rekindled Cha-cha debates among the leaders of our country.

Former President Fidel Ramos yesterday expressed support to revive efforts to amend our Constitution. Mr. Ramos was the first to start Cha-cha through people’s initiative during his term but it never took off. This time, Mr. Ramos is amenable to do it through a Con-con mode also.

In an official statement he issued yesterday, Vice President Binay was among those who opposed to renewed efforts to push Cha-cha. However, he hastily clarified he would not cast doubts on the motives of those behind the revival of Cha-cha.

But should Cha-Cha efforts get going, Binay said he would rather have the amendments done by a Constitutional Commission (Con-Com) instead of a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass). He wants a Con-Com similar to the commission formed during the term of former President Corazon Aquino who appointed 50 men and women to draft the new Constitution.

Incidentally, rekindling Cha-cha comes at a time our country observes the 24th anniversary of the ratification of our Constitution this February.