Arroyo’s draft constitution removes lawmakers’ term limits

Mara Cepeda

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Arroyo’s draft constitution removes lawmakers’ term limits
Resolution of Both Houses No. 15, authored by Speaker Gloria Macagapal Arroyo and 21 others, also does not regulate political dynasties

TERM LIMITS. If the House's draft federal constitution will be approved, term limits for legislators will be lifted. File photo by Darren Langit/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – The draft federal constitution being proposed by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo would remove the term limits for members of Congress.

Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 15, which is co-authored by 21 other legislators, removes the provisions imposing a two-term limit for senators and a 3-term limit for district and party-list representatives.

The term limit provisions for senators and House members are explicitly stated under Section 4 and 7, respectively, of the 1987 Constitution

Meanwhile, the draft federal charter proposed by the Consultative Committee (Con-Com) formed by President Rodrigo Duterte allows senators and representatives to have one reelection. (READ: Highlights of Consultative Committee’s draft constitution)

Under both the Con-Com draft and RBH 15, each term for lawmakers would be 4 years long. 

Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate slammed RBH 15’s proposal to lift the term limits on legislators.

He said the lifting of term limits would allow Arroyo, a 3rd-termer lawmaker, to run for office in the 2019 elections should the draft federal charter of the House be approved.  

“Worse, this cha-cha (charter change) also lifts the term limits for congressmen and senators. So GMA in effect can still run for Congress; this is designed, thus, for her and many others to remain in power ad infinitum,” said Zarate. 

“Just like before, we must do everything to derail this by pulling the plug now,” he added. 

Unlike the Con-Com draft, RBH 15 does not have any provisions on the regulation on political dynasties. 

The Con-Com draft states an elected official cannot be succeeded by a relative within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity. Persons related in this degree also cannot run in the same election cycle, unless one is running for a national office (president or vice president) and a local position.

 

How do lawmakers defend lifting term limits? On Monday, October 8, Arroyo said the lifting of term limits “is really a collegial decision.”

Muntinlupa Representative Rufino Biazon said one benefit of lifting term limits would be to ensure the legislative branch will be filled with experts in lawmaking. 

He said the term limits being imposed by the 1987 Constitution leads to a situation where “we will always have a legislature [that is] lacking in experience.”  

Alam ninyo what the value of experience is pagka dumating tayo sa deliberations on the floor, deliberations in committees. Iba iyong mayroong karanasan pagdating sa policy making,” said Biazon. 

(You know, the value of experience comes during the deliberations on the floor and the deliberations in committees. It’s different when you have experience in policy making.)

House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez supports the removal of term limits, arguing it would prevent political dynasties. But he said the number of candidates from the same family running for office should be limited. 

Kasi kaya nagkaroon ng dynasty, ‘pag lilipat siya ng puwesto, may papatakbuhin siyang iba. Nagiging dalawa na ‘yong apelyido sa isang lugar. Ngayon, kung wala na ‘yong term limit, siya na lang nang siya. Walang mag-aambisyon na iba,” said the Quezon 3rd District representative.  

(Dynasties happen because when an elected official has to run for another position, he or she would ask someone else to run for his or her old post. So two people with the same surnames will end up running. Now, if there is no term limit, it would just be the same person who will be elected again and again. No one else [from his family] will have the ambition to run.)

The Minority Leader’s statement was ironic since several members of the Suarez clan hold public office in Quezon. They include Governor David Suarez, Quezon 3rd District Board Member Donaldo Suarez, and Unisan Vice Mayor Danilo Suarez Jr. – Rappler.com

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Mara Cepeda

Mara Cepeda specializes in stories about politics and local governance. She covers the Office of the Vice President, the Senate, and the Philippine opposition. She is a 2021 fellow of the Asia Journalism Fellowship and the Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship of the UN. Got tips? Email her at mara.cepeda@rappler.com or tweet @maracepeda.