Imee wants term limits removed; Diokno recalls how Marcos prolonged regime

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos favors removing term limits of elected officials saying it does not deter political dynasties, but even worsens it.

“Tanggalin na ang term limits at hindi nakakatulong,” Marcos said during "Debate 2019: The GMA senatorial face-off" aired Saturday evening.

“Naipakita ng isang pag-aaral, ‘Political Reform and Elite Persistence,’ na imbes na mabawasan ang dinastiya kapag naging prangkisa ang apelyido nagsimula sa ama na matino-tino, tapos asawa na wala namang alam, tapos maglalanding pa sa pasaway na anak e mas lalo pang naging malala,” she added.

Marcos said that if a town or city finally gets a good leader, then the elected should be allowed to effect change with term limits.

But human rights lawyer Chel Diokno opposed the idea, saying the people should remember what happened during the Martial Law era when late dictator Ferdinand Marcos prolonged his stay in power.

“Hindi pa ba kayo nadala sa nangyari sa atin nung Martial Law? Nakalimutan na ba natin ang ating kasaysayan na meron tayong isang pangulo na iniluklok ang sarili, naging diktador, para iwasan ang term limit?” he said, referring to the father of the governor.

“Ginawa niyang kasangkapan ‘yan para ang pamilya nila ay magkamal ng kay laki-laking mga pera,” he added, referring to the supposed ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses still being pursued by the government.

Marcos asked her fellow senatorial candidate Diokno if indeed the term limits gave the not-so-rich and not-so-popular candidates opportunities to be elected.

Diokno said it is the voters who have the right to choose their leaders.

“Ang term limit ay parang naging pag-aari na nga ng mga nakapuwesto ang kanilang pwesto. Ang taumbayan ang may-ari ng pwesto at sila dapat ang mamimili. Kapag walang term limits, magiging pag-aari na ng mga pulitiko ‘yan,” he said.

Diokno then asked Marcos what her proposal would be to stop political dynasty if there are no term limits.

The Ilocos Norte governor said electoral reform should be instituted.

“Siguro kinakailangan nating pag-aralang mabuti ang  depinisyon ng dynasty. Higit sa lahat, electoral reform para talagang nabibilang ang boto, malaya ang bumoto,” she said. —LBG, GMA News