FORMER Press Secretary of the Philippines, Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles, once again discussed the issue of term extension by former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., which can be linked what is happening in the current administration.
‘‘Truth be told, before we thought we were very strict, but we see that it’s entirely possible that if you have Congress on your side, then Martial Law can even be extended later on.’’
‘‘Term extension in the first Marcos Administration, Martial Law was declared so he wouldn’t run again for the presidency first, then he set the conditions so his term could continue because it was ending by that time, right? So eventually, a new Constitution was established, and he gained additional powers including the power to make laws, and later on, the Judicial Power to issue arrest, search, and seizure orders, remember that? We call it ASSO. He had Judicial Power, he had the power to make laws, and he was still the president,’’ Atty. Trixie Angeles, Former Press Secretary, stated.
This was shared by Atty. Trixie Angeles regarding the events during Martial Law under the former administration of Marcos Sr.
And with the current political happenings, such as the attempted constitutional changes through the People’s Initiative (PI), are linked to the alleged real intention of the current administration to extend its term.
According to Atty. Cruz-Angeles, a large amount of funds is required to change the Constitution, such as in the case of PI which was early halted due to alleged anomalous collection of signatures for Charter Change.
‘‘They spent too much money to change the Constitution to limit it here. Besides, we know it will enter, either through a constitutional convention or through a constituent assembly.’’
‘‘So, if you put all of that together, it’s impossible not to have a term extension. It’s impossible not to have a Charter Change, and we already see and hear that’s what they’re talking about, even in the House among themselves,’’ Atty. Angeles added.
If the term extension of the administration is implemented, all government officials, even those whose terms are nearing their end, will be included here.
