EDITORIAL

Self-serving officials

The surest way to kill any attempt to amend the Constitution in this country is to include an agenda for extending terms of office. But this hasn’t stopped congressmen from admitting that they are pursuing plans to extend their terms from three years to five by amending the Constitution.

As any constitutionalist knows, any change in the basic law of the land, through whatever mode, requires ratification by the people. By now public officials should have learned, from previous attempts to amend the Constitution, that any hint of a self-serving agenda kills public support for a Charter change initiative.

The fear of having public officials — the president in particular — believing that they are entitled to serve for life can be traced to the national trauma from Ferdinand Marcos’ attempt to hang on to power forever. That fear prompted framers of the Constitution to impose that single six-year term for the president as well as set term limits for other elective officials.

Politicians learned to go around this constitutional provision, making their spouses and children take over their posts at the end of their term and thus perpetuating political dynasties. But there is no guarantee of continuing the family business in every election.

Some, if nor most congressmen want the certainty of a term extension through a constitutional amendment. At least the House members cannot be accused of having a hidden agenda in Charter change. But their candor can only intensify public opposition to Cha-cha.

Speculation that Cha-cha is meant chiefly to allow President Arroyo to hang on to power beyond 2010 has already set back peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

It has also muddled debates on the merits of shifting to a federal system of government. There are several provisions in the Constitution that if amended can boost the economy and the country’s competitiveness. But these needed amendments cannot materialize unless politicians can put their self-serving agenda in the backburner.