PARTLIST representatives vehemently denounced President Benigno Aquino III's move to perpetuate himself in power and clip the power of the Supreme Court.
They described such move as similar to what former president Ferdinand Marcos did when it declared Martial Law to hold on to power.
They also called Aquino's declaration as a "worst kind of betrayal" of Ninoy, Cory and the millions who suffered and fought to end Marcos dictatorship.
Aquino said he is now amenable to amend the Constitution and extend his term.
Aquino, according to reports, said the judiciary appeared to be using its power to check the executive and legislative branches without restraint.
"When I took this office, I recall that it was only for one term of six years," he said. "Now, after having said that, of course, I have to listen to my bosses [the people]."
But the President made it clear that his statement did not necessarily mean that “I would automatically go after an additional term.”
Bayan Muna Partylist Representatives Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate vowed to oppose any measure in Congress to amend the Constitution.
They called on the public to protest in their millions and frustrate the dictatorial ambition of Aquino.
"Aquino is delusional and power hungry, thus, unfit to rule. His dictatorial ambition must be crushed. He must be ousted from office to prevent him from imposing his wicked plan," Colmenares said in a statement e-mailed to Sun.Star Davao.
Colmenares said: “Ang Cha-cha ay isa ring paraan ni Aquino para hindi siya mapanagot sa kasalanan niya sa DAP at sa pagpapatuloy ng pork barrel system dahil kapag siya ay nagtagumpay ay magkakaroon na naman siyang immunity. Dito makikita na dapat talagang isulong ang impeachment labankay President Aquino upangsiya ay mapanagotnangayon at hindinagumawa pa ngmgaparaanparamakalusot.”
"Paano gugustuhin ng mga taon at tumagal pa si Aquino sa pwesto gayong sa rehimen niya dumami ang walang trabaho at mahihirap, tumaas ang presyong mga bilihin, lumalalaang korupsyon at mga paglabag sa karapatan pantao,” Zarate said.
"There is definitely no clamor from the people to extend his term. The strong clamor of the people is to abolish the corrupt pork barrel system Aquino is perpetuating and to punish all those who plunder and abuse their power, including Aquino," Zarate added.
Colmenares scored Aquino’s view of the Supreme Court review power as destroying check and balance. The judicial power of the Supreme Court was expanded in the Constitution to check presidential abuse because President Marcos castrated the judiciary during Martial rule.
Colmenares added that “the six-year term limit for the President and the power of the Supreme Court to rule on grave abuse of discretion is precisely enshrined in the 1987 Constitution to strengthen checks and balance and as safeguards against one-man dictatorship.
“The truth is Pres. Aquino wants this check and balance provision removed because he wants to maintain his DAP and his presidential pork and abuse his power,” said the Senior Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
“The people, in fact, lauded the SC ruling against the congressional and presidential pork barrel as a just and correct decision to check plunder of public funds and abuse of power, said Colmenares.”
Zarate added that “President Aquino's Chacha train is like a run-away MRT train -- it is carrying us not in a tuwid na daan but to a certain perilous end.
“Aquino's duplicity is now finally and totally unmasked. It's hele-hele bago kiyere. After all his past denials, in truth he is more interested to perpetuate himself in power and evade accountability like Marcos and Arroyo” Zarate said.