Comments

You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name

Your e-mail (optional)

Website (optional)

	My Original Nic Pic-a-Nic Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Foto

Submit your comments on this article

Southeast Asia

Philippines will rewrite constitution

2009-06-04

[Straits Times] PHILIPPINE lawmakers have passed a resolution to re-write the constitution, a move critics said on Wednesday is aimed at giving outgoing President Gloria Arroyo another term in power.
Hmmm... That might be the worst idea I've heard all day. It's certainly up there with the two or three worst.
The resolution was passed by the House of Representatives, which is dominated by Mrs Arroyo allies, following a marathon session just before midnight on Tuesday. It still needs the approval of the Senate.

The constitution, written in 1987, limits presidents to one six-year term in office. Tuesday's resolution would empower the Philippine Congress to convene as a constitutional assembly and re-write the document. 'It's impossible for them to do it without the Senate,' said Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. He called the House measure an 'exercise in futility.'

The Philippines is due to hold a presidential election in May to choose the successor to Arroyo. Mrs Arroyo allies have been pressing to re-write the constitution for months - purportedly to make the economy more competitive by easing rules on foreign ownership in certain sectors.

Posted by:Fred

#9 If I said how I really feel the mods would sinktrap my commenys, and rightly so. She is close to the Marcos/PingLacson days.

Posted by: 49 Pan 2009-06-04 23:07

#8 Probably won'rt be satisfied until her shoe collection is bigger then Imelda's..

Posted by: tu3031 2009-06-04 16:10

#7 Comeon 49. Stop holding back - tell us how you _really_ feel.

Once in a while my wife will mention what it was like under Marcos. People and families disapearing without a trace. Not nice.

This is what happens when you don't have Rule of Law - under a SC Justice like Sotomayor.

Posted by: CrazyFool 2009-06-04 16:09

#6 All the joys of having an oligarchy.

Posted by: Pappy 2009-06-04 14:52

#5 Thing, Thats how I took it, this was not directed at your comment, I was laughing at it. This little tirant pisses me off, she played with the Burnham hostages to milk money from the US and get world press. Her husband, who's name is Joker, is so tied to China and its corruptiion I doubt he speakes anything but chinese. She is another Marcos and she will do what he did to the country when the people have had enough of her.

Posted by: 49 Pan 2009-06-04 12:21

#4 Pan, I was being sarcastic.

Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2009-06-04 12:12

#3 She took the country by coup and sent all her opponents to prison or worse. She ran the loophole of not serving a full term so she could get elected for a second term. She used her loyal military to throw out all votes against her, some provinces had zero votes for her making her a landslide victory. She tried to destroy their constitution and turn it into a parliamentary system so she could be PM for life, she failed. If she does not get the third term exemption she will fabricate a crisis put the country into a state of emergency and not allow elections. She is a little dictator, plain and simple. And now I feel better, rant off

Posted by: 49 Pan 2009-06-04 12:08

#2 Are you suggesting that they be disloyal to the Patron? (Well, in this case, Matron, I guess).

Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2009-06-04 10:49

#1 As I recall she wasn't supposed to seek the current term. And the 'count' of the last election looked like it was run by the Philippine equivalent of Acorn.

Why don't they just make her 'president for life' and be done with it.

Posted by: CrazyFool 2009-06-04 00:37

00:00