Disappointed with Bernas’ view on Charter change
I am disappointed that our “constitution guru,” Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ, “disapproved of changing the presidential term limit and advised Mr. Aquino to retire after serving his six-year term” (“Bernas tells P-Noy to retire, give Santiago a chance,” Front Page, 8/28/14).
The constitutional provision on the president’s six-year term of office, without reelection, was approved by the 1986 Constitutional Convention of which he was a member. It is deemed “too long for a bad president and too short for a good president.”
Well, we know what happened to a bad president—people power forced him to quit after three years of nonrule.
Now we have a situation when six years is not enough to institutionalize the “daang matuwid” that has produced a new tiger in Asia—the Philippines.
We are no longer named “the sick man of Asia.”
The country for the first time is rated investment-grade by all three international rating agencies.
The Philippines is off the list of the “Ten Most Corrupt Countries” in the world.
Since President Aquino assumed the highest office of the land, our quarterly gross domestic product (GDP) has registered first or second best in Asia, sometimes better than colossal China’s GDP.
In spite of the downturn in P-Noy’s popularity rating, it is still higher than that of any previous Philippine president’s on their fourth year in office, including his mother, Tita Cory.
Ask any taxi driver, a good gauge of the common man/woman, and he will agree to an additional six more years for P-Noy. In short, the people will favor a change in the Constitution to remove the prohibition for reelection.
They know what is at stake in the 2016 election.
The Philippines needs to continue the trend of integrity in government, and President Aquino should be allowed to run for president for another six years.
Even our Lord Jesus Christ Himself “amended” the Torah when He allowed his disciples to pick and eat grain from the field on the Sabbath, in violation of the most sacrosanct law during His time.
Yes, Charter change on that provision only via Constituent Assembly—by Congress—NOW!
—LOIDA NICOLAS LEWIS, chair,
US Pinoys for Good Governance
