FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City – President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III here disclosed he has no plans of seeking re-election or have his term extended after June 30, 2016 but the matter on who will pursue his proven anti-graft crusade and economic reforms will be left out to the Filipino people during the May 2016.
Speaking before the graduation rites of the 172-member Sundalong Isinilang na may Angking Galing at Lakas Handang Ipaglaban ang Bayan (Sinag Lahi) Class of 2015 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) here, President Aquino boasted that the government’s anti corruption campaign, putting in place of economic policies and giving development and livelihood opportunities to all have greatly contributed in uplifting the country to investment grade status giving more opportunities for growth and development beyond his administration.
“The gains of our administration over the past four and a half years of cleansing the system from ramping corruption has greatly improved the country’s image in the international scene and has made our economy stable compared to when we just assumed office” Aquino stressed.
He recognized the fact that contributory to the success of his administration in his anti-corruption campaign and the putting in place of appropriate economic reforms is the confidence o the Filipino people that they bestowed on him as the country’s leader.
According to him, many of his close allies and even the people are constantly inquiring from him on who will be the country’s next leader whom he will anoint to pursue the gains of his administration beyond 2016 but he informed them that considering that it was the Filipino people who put him in Malacanang, then it will be again the people who will decide on who will be the country’s next leader who will pursue the implementation of successful anti-corruption efforts and economic reforms.
“My seeking another term would send the wrong message to my successor that i8t might be good for them to stay longer in power which might be prone to abuses like what happened during the martial law years where we bowed to the whims and caprices of the martial law leader unlike today that the voice of the people are being considered in the implementation of policy reforms,” the Chief Executive added.
Aquino disclosed part of the gains of the government’s anti-corruption efforts and economic reforms are now being used for the modernization of the armed forces, the putting in place of their pensions system and the increase in their benefits as well as the put up of more housing units to cater to the housing requirements of their love ones and their families.
The President underscored his administration was able to provide for the needs of the armed forces even without increasing taxes, except for the sin taxes, because of the desire of the nation to have a stronger military that will defend the country’s sovereignty that will bring lasting peace and robust development for the present and future generation of Filipinos.
He warned his critics and those sectors who continue to impede the implementation of appropriate reforms in the government that his administration will utilize the full force of the law against them.
However, for those who are willing to embrace reforms, the President said the government is willing to dialogue with them in order to continue uplifting the stat of the country’s economic growth for the improvement of the living condition of poor Filipinos in the countryside.
By Dexter A. See
