MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 21, 2014) – President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday led the commemoration of the 31st death anniversary of his father – former Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.
Aquino and his sisters Ballsy, Pinky, Viel and Kris, attended a mass at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City. But this turned into politics after the priest – Presidential Security Group chaplain Monsignor Daniel Tansip – prayed that Aquino should stay longer in power so he can continue the reforms in government.
“Let us ask the Good Lord for continuous guidance, for the grace and strength, so that we may be able to continue our mission to serve and be always part of the straight path our beloved President is determined to push through,” he said.
“Kung ako lang po ang masusunod, ako’y isang ordinaryong pari lang, on this personal note: Sana hindi na matapos iyong paglilingkod ng ating mahal na Pangulo, para tuluy-tuloy pa rin ang magandang nasimulan sa pagtutuwid at pagtatama ng daan,” he added.
The Constitution only allows one term of six years for the presidency, but Aquino said he is open to amending the Charter to allow him to extend his term, among others.
But various civil groups and progressive organizations criticized Aquino for trying to prolong his presidency.
“We may talk endlessly of the contributions of Ninoy in the struggle against the dictatorship and his selfless dedication to the ideals of a democratic nation but more importantly, we are compelled by a higher political circumstance to launch intensified mass actions for the reason that a looming dictatorship is in the offing,” said Atty. Aaron Pedrosa, Secretary General of Sanlakas and Kongreso ng Maralita ng Lungsod.
Aquino’s dictatorial tendency, Pedrosa said, “may have been fanned by his utter pigheadedness to salvage his declining popularity, the entire political system of patronage elite politics by resurrecting the pork barrel system in the 2015 budget and his own self from prosecution after his term ends in 2016”.
Gie Relova, of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, said: “We, the ordinary wage-earners, loyal taxpayers will suffer the heaviest brunt if Aquino succeeds in amending the Constitution. Economically, our wages will continue to deteriorate, the government’s tactic is to depress wages to sub-human standards in order to attract investors. Truth be said, the ASEAN nations shall not compete in terms of superior products and services but shall compete only in lowering labor costs to get the nod of exploitative multinationals.”
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