Resolution for Longer Terms for the President and Vice President Filed in Congress

Is the country ready for charter change and longer reigns? Pampanga Rep. Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. seems to think so, as he filed a fresh resolution to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which would allow the President and Vice President to have a five-year term with a possible reelection bid. The said resolution also proposes that the two be voted in tandem as a means of encouraging a strong party system in the country.

Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution reads: "The President shall not be eligible for re-election. No person who has succeeded as President and has served as such for more than four years shall be qualified for election to the same office at any time. No Vice President shall serve for more than two successive terms."

Gonzales' filing comes on the heels of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte's landslide victory. He argued that "the six-year term to implement long-term programs and policies appears to be insufficient" and that the recent elections results show that there is a "green light from our citizenry to proceed with the discussion on charter change."

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The said resolution applies to local officials, as well. This includes provisions to increase the current term limit for congressmen from three years to five, with a limit of only two consecutive terms, which is a departure from the current system that allows them to have three. Term limits for senators, however, were not discussed.

In an interview with ANC on Monday, July 4, Gonzales did stress that if the measure would be approved during President Marcos' term, the president wouldn't necessarily benefit from it. “I think, hindi po. Kung ma-aapprove this 19th Congress, magstart ito sa 2025. Sa 2025, nasa midterm ang ating Pangulo at ating Vice President so sa palagay ko hindi sila pwedeng tumakbo rito,” he claimed.

This isn't the first time Gonzales had filed this measure. He said that he had filed similar resolutions in both the 17th and 18th Congress. The 19th Congress will open on July 25.