Solon looking to change presidential term to 4 years, with re-election

The lawmaker behind the draft of the proposed federal charter is looking into the possibility of revising the tenure and term limit of the president.

In a press conference, ABS party-list Representative Eugene Michael De Vera said he is looking into reducing the tenure of the president to four years, but allowing a re-election.

De Vera, along with Pampanga Representative Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales, proposed Resolution of Both Houses No. 8, calling on both houses of Congress to convene in an Constituent Assembly to discuss revisions in the 1987 Constitution, as part of the move to shift to a federal form of government.

Attached in the said resolution was their draft of the "Proposed Constitution of the Federal Republic of the Philippines" filed on August 2, 2016.

"We are looking at that because definitely that is one of the contentious issues," De Vera told reporters.

"As far as the president is concerned siguro, pwedeng four years, four years din pero isang re-election siya, katulad ng dati," he added.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the president serves a single six-year term and is not eligible for re-election.

De Vera also suggested that officials with three-year terms, such as local government officials and congressmen, should have four-year terms instead.

He said that according to some local officials, the three-year term is "so short" for them to accomplish all their projects, hence the need to increase it.

De Vera said he is also willing to lift the term limit of government officials if the electorate, who will ratify the proposed federal charter through a referendum, will allow it.

"Personally, I'm willing to lift the term limits. You know why? Because you give to the electorate the decision whether to retain or not. Iba 'yan sa mga appointed officials. At least 'yung mga elective officials, you face your appointing authorities every election year," he said.

In an interview last week, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said that should Congress decide to convene in a constituent assembly this January, the proposed new federal charter could be submitted for a referendum simultaneously with the scheduled Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections this May. — BM, GMA News