
MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles®) – A bi-partisan majority of members of the Philippines’ House of Representatives and Senate have rejected a second term for President NoyNoyAquino, or his successors.
The constitution limits the presidential term to six years with no re-election.
There has been a lot of speculation that the Aquino camp was trying to maneuver a possible second term for the president after he completes his six years in office in 2016.
The legislators, lead by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, all but doused the hope for Aquino to run for re-election.
Santiago said that any proposal to amend the constitution to allow a second presidential term will not get the required number of votes in Congress in order for it to pass.
The feisty senator added that there is a clear consensus among the bi-partisan legislators that the only way they will agree to two terms is for the president to serve one, six-year term in Malacanang (the presidential palace), and a second indefinite term in prison.
Former President Joseph Estrada, now city mayor of Manila, served a prison term for corruption before he was pardoned by his successor, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who herself, is now under hospital arrest for similar charges.