MILITANT lawmakers have accused President Benigno Aquino III on Friday of planning to evade accountability amid proposals made by some of his allies in the House of Representatives to amend the Constitution to enable the Chief Executive to seek for a second term in office.
Bayan Muna party-list Representatives Neri Colmenares and Carlos Isagani Zarate both stressed that Aquino's sudden change of heart for his openness now in the Charter Change (Cha-cha) and term extension is a means to escape accountability from the illegal and unconstitutional Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
They said Aquino is immune from suit if he continues to stay in power.
"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 siya ng immunity. Dito makikita na dapat talagang isulong ang impeachment laban kay Presidente Aquino upang siya ay mapanagot na ngayon at hindi na gumawa pa ng mga paraan para makalusot," Colmenares said.
Colmenares denounced Aquino's move to perpetuate himself in power and clip the power of the Supreme Court (SC) describing it as akin to the imposition of Martial Law by late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
He also described the moves by the President's allies as the worst kind of betrayal of the President's parents, martyred Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino and late President Corazon "Cory" Aquino, and the millions who suffered and fought to end Marcos tyrannical rule.
Both Colmenares and Zarate vowed to vigorously oppose any measure in Congress to amend the Constitution and calls on the people 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," said Colmenares.
"Paano gugustuhin ng mga tao na tumagal pa si Aquino sa pwesto gayong sa rehimen niya dumami ang walang trabaho at mahihirap, tumaas ang presyo ng mga bilihin, lumalala ang korupsyon at mga paglabag sa karapatan pantao," Zarate said.
He said that there is definitely no clamor from the people to extend the Chief Executive's 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 said.
Also, Colmenares scored Aquino's view of the high court's review power as destroying check and balance.
He said that the judicial power of the SC was expanded in the 1987 Constitution to check presidential abuse because "the Marcos regime castrated the judiciary during Martial rule."
"The truth is President Aquino wants this check and balance provision removed because he wants to maintain his DAP and his presidential pork and abuse his power," the House Senior Deputy Minority Floor Leader said. (Sunnex)