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PNoy: No plans to extend term after 2016


President Benigno Aquino III on Sunday ruled out the possibility of running for a second term, even if the constitutional limit on a single six-year tenure would be lifted.

In an interview following the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit forum on inclusive growth, where he and Peruvian President Ollanta Humala gave keynote speeches, Aquino said his lack of desire to extend his stay in power allows him to make hard decisions in running the country.

“Probably not. There are decisions especially for an emerging economy like ours, an emerging country like ours that may not be politically, shall we say, palatable or politically correct,” Aquino said.

The issue on term limits is a sensitive one in the Philippines, which was ruled for 20 years by strongman Ferdinand Marcos when he decided to declare Martial Law shortly before his eight-year tenure as President expired.

Aquino, whose mother Corazon Aquino was swept into power after Marcos was ousted in 1986, has repeatedly said he looks forward to stepping down after his six years as President are up.

Elected into office in 2010, Aquino's term ends in June 2016.

“You can make an unpopular decision right now but one that is necessary for the future good, and you are not worried about the next election. Our theory is: give our people an experience of what good governance is,” said Aquino.

“Whereas, if you are concerned about the next term, everything you do has to be in the backdrop of how to secure your next years in office, which probably will be such a temptation to any leader to try and please the people all the time, regardless whether or not it is good,” he added.

However, Aquino expressed the hope that his style of leadership would make it easier for someone with similar viewpoints and approach to governance to get elected. — Patricia Denise Chiu/KBK/YA, GMA News

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