House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said term limits “created” political dynasties in the Philippines.
Cayetano’s remarks come following the announcement of Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who chairs the House committee on constitutional amendments, regarding constitutional change. He revealed his panel’s plan to convene and discuss changes in the Constitution after President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address.
“Sabi nila, ayaw na nila ng dynasty. Ang nag-create ng dynasty is the term limits (They say they no longer want dynasties. Term limits created dynasties),” Cayetano said.
Cayetano serves as Taguig City-Pateros 1st District representative while his wife, Maria Laarni, is the representative of the second district. Meanwhile, his brother, Lino, is currently the mayor of Taguig City.
The House Speaker said that the their family did not plan to hold the three highest positions in the city but “bitter political rivalries” became an issue.
“Di ninais ng mga Cayetano na tatlo sa mataas na position, Cayetano. Ang problema noon mayroong bitter political rivalry, dumating ako sa punto na binu-bulldozer nung mayor namin, na hindi ko kasama, ang mga project na ginagawa ko at ginagawa ng DPWH,” Cayetano said.
“Sasabihin nila, mga mayor natin, panay pulitika. E three years yung term eh. In the middle of the [year] kang mae-elect… Worldwide, mga 4 to 5 years ang term e para nakaka-pagplanning, nakakapagtrabaho,” Cayetano said in a press briefing.
“Yun kayang CEO sa kumpanya, sabihin kaya natin sa kanila three-year lang ang term mo at yung una mong taon sa gitna ng fiscal year and then sa last year mo, nangangampanya ka, tingin niyo mapapatakbo ng maganda yung mga kumpanya?” he said.
Timing
Cayetano stressed the need for amending the Constitution, adding that timing is only the concern.
He admits that holding a plebiscite would not be possible now that the country is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic and observing health measures such as social distancing.
Cayetano clarified that “we only want Constitutional change if the people want it and want it very badly.”
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) previously said they received a resolution seeking reforms in the Constitution from the members of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP).
The resolution contains their proposed changes, such as the institutionalization of the Mandanas ruling of the Supreme Court in the Constitution and the removal of restrictions on foreign investment in industries that are only exclusive to Filipinos.