Aquino’s imperial presidency
Aquino’s imperial presidency
During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Bali, Indonesia, last October 6, 2013, Philippine President Noynoy Aquino was asked whether he thought of serving another term to ensure the country’s economic growth that seemed to prosper during his incumbency. Aquino was loudly applauded when he rejected the idea of a seeking a second term.
In explaining the rationale for the one-term limit for Philippine presidents, Aquino recalled how one of his predecessors was “first elected in 1965, got re-elected in 1969, and decided to stay until 1986.” Of course, Aquino was referring to Ferdinand Marcos who ruled the country with an iron fist for more than two decades. Marcos wasn’t contented with two terms: he had to invent a justification for declaring martial law to prolong his presidency beyond the constitutional limit.
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