MANILA - Senator Nancy Binay urged President Aquino to listen to the “real” voice of the people and not those who may have personal interests in the 2016 elections.
Binay pointed out that Aquino’s mother, Cory, refused proposals for her to run for another term during her time.
“Panawagan ko, pagdasal natin ang ating presidente na talagang maliwanagan siya at makinig siya talaga doon sa tunay na boses. Makinig siya sa tunay na boses ng mga boss niya,” she said.
She said Aquino may be hearing the voices of those with vested interests.
“Kasi ang nakakatakot, parang paulit-ulit na sinasabi na may boses. E baka ‘yung boses na naririnig niya ‘yung mga boses na may mga personal na interes for 2016. ‘Yun yung nakakatakot e,” she said.
Aquino said on Wednesday he was considering constitutional changes, including adjustment of term limits for officials that might allow him to serve a second six-year term.
The present constitution limits Aquino, elected in 2010, to a single six-year term. The restriction was born of the country's experience of martial law under the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled for more than two decades.
Aquino, speaking in an interview with a local television network, was asked whether charter changes would allow him to seek a second term in 2016.
"When I got into this, I remembered it is for one term of six years," he replied.
"Now after having said that, of course I have to listen to my bosses," he added, using his usual reference to the Filipino people. "But that doesn't mean...that I will automatically chase after another term, right?" – with reports from Reuters