By Lilybeth G. Ison
MANILA, Aug. 14 (PNA) — Malacanang on Thursday said the openness of President Benigno Aquino III for a Charter change (Cha-cha) and second term was only to ensure continuation of the reforms in government that his administration has started.
“Iyung pagiging open niya (Aquino) ay alinsunod nga doon sa kanyang pagnanasa na malaman ang saloobin ng mga mamamayan… na kaya niya gustong malaman ang opinyon ng kanyang mga boss, talagang desidido siya na maisulong iyong pagiging permanente… iyung pagpapatuloy sa mga reporma at transpormasyong inilalahad niya. Iyon ang pinakamahalaga sa Pangulo,” said Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, in a press briefing in Malacanang.
In an earlier television interview, President Aquino, when asked if he is open for a second term of office, said he wants to get the opinion of his “bosses.”
“Nung pinasukan ko ito, ang tanda ko one term of six years… Ngayon, after having said that, siyempre ang mga boss ko, kelangan kong pakinggan ‘yon (When I first got into this, I noted, one term of six years. Now, after having said that, of course I have to listen to the people),” he said.
The President, however, was quick to add: “Hindi naman ibig sabihin… na automatic na hahabol pa ako na magkaroon pa ako ng dagdag dito, ‘no? (That doesn’t automatically mean I’ll be chasing after another term, right?).”
President Aquino said he wants to consult the people on one crucial question — “How do we ensure the reforms we began will become permanent?”
Having said that, Coloma said the President’s platform is his “social contract with the Filipino people,” and the transformation in society.
“Ang kanyang (Aquino) plataporma ay social contract with the Filipino people. At sinabi niya, ang kanyang layunin mabago at magkaroon ng transpormasyon ang ating lipunan. Sinasabi (din) niya, ‘gusto kong malaman ang opinyon ng aking mga boss sapagkat ang aking pangunahing layunin ay siguraduhin na maipagpatuloy at gawin permanente ang transpormasyon ng ating lipunan’,” he noted.
Coloma said the President is very clear in his statement that he wants to listen to the opinion of his “bosses” on how to ensure the continuation of the reforms in governance that the present administration has been implementing.
“Mahalaga sa Pangulo ang pakikinig sa kanyang mga boss at ang mga mamamayang Pilipino at nais niyang pulsuhan ang saloobin ng mamamayan kung paano masisigurado na ang mga reporma at transpormasyong naumpisahan ay maipagpapatuloy at maging permanente,” he said. (PNA)