Palace cites Aquino ‘one more term’ online clamor

The “one more term” clamor for President Aquino is just “a manifestation of continuing support” for the Chief Executive, Malacañang said yesterday.

Some netizens have been expressing their sentiment for Aquino to be allowed to vie for reelection after his term ends in 2016, saying that they are pleased with the “good governance” shown by his administration for the past four years.

“One more term,” “Re-elect PNoy for President,” and “Noynoy pa rin” were just some of the slogans posted by a number of netizens on the President’s Official Facebook Page Noynoy Aquino (P-Noy) which has over four million supporters.

“Mr. President, we seek and hope for you to run for another term please… the country desperately needs a true leader like you, so please Mr. President… we highly support, adore and salute you. Mabuhay!,” wrote Dunstin Gina Roa.

Though he is aware that a President is limited by the Constitution to only a six-year term, Rogelio Quiambao Jumig posted that if Filipinos are capable of ousting their leader, they could also move to “retain” their President.

Aquino, however, had repeatedly said in the past that he has no plans to seek another term.

“Yes the President has made it clear that he has no plans of extending his term. It is perhaps a manifestation of the people’s continuing support for the President,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told Manila Bulletin when asked for comment on the clamor of some netizens for Aquino to be allowed to seek reelection.

During the recent “Daylight Dialogue” forum in Malacañang, Aquino asked Filipinos to wear yellow ribbons to show if they still support the administration amid the controversy on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) of his administration.

The President, who has been battling record-low public trust and satisfaction ratings, turned emotional in his penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA) last week as he hit back at critics whom he claimed are against the beneficiaries of the reforms he has initiated.

For Lolita Sy, since Aquino is barred by the Constitution to seek another term, the best that his supporters could do is to ensure that his successor has only good intentions for the country.

“We can’t go against the Constitution by keeping PNoy as President but we can and must be watchful for making sure that we vote for a good, honest, intelligent, God-fearing, and a person who’ll lead with good example with his own personal life and with all good intentions for the benefit of the Filipinos and the Philippines,” she said.