Conflict of interest

Two or three House leaders announced that they were for observing a 100-day moratorium on the issue of Charter change. But the House is not Congress.

Most senators who were elected in May 2004 – or all 12 of them – don’t relish the idea of vacating their hard-won seats.

Who wants to shorten an elective legislative term – from six to three – after spending countless millions in a nationwide summer campaign? The constitutional amendment to change the 1987 Charter is not a unanimous idea in the House.

Senate resists Charter revision

And the Senate keeps on resisting such a change until the proposed amendment or shift to a new form of government is fully understood by voters nationwide who will be asked to ratify any revision to the Charter.

All for a full term of 6 years

Palace officials, with the blessing of the President, openly announced last week that such a change will be proper only after June 30, 2010, in order to complete the full six-year presidential tenure.

Why are some House leaders too presumptuous or overconfident that the President will deduct a few days or months from a full term of six years?

Remember we are discussing the subject of waiving or diluting the power of a nationally elected leader. The eager-beaver House leaders have only a small constituency in a province or city.

Precedents for extending stay in office

The 1935 Commonwealth Constitution restricted the presidential term to six years without reelection. After the 1938 election of the National Assembly members, Mr. Quezon’s boys started proclaiming that "six years is too long for a bad leader and definitely too short for a good one."

1940 Cha-cha and act of US Congress

Mr. Quezon started hinting that Cha-cha in 1940 by the one-house Legislature as a constituent assembly was proper. His term was to end on November 15, 1941. Quezon’s term was extended by two years to 1943. WW II and the occupation of PI caused the exile of our government to Washington, D.C.

Quezon, with the "conforme’’ of Vice President Osmeña, asked President Roosevelt for another term extension, which FDR approved in the form of a special act of the US Congress. Quezon’s term would have ended in November, 1943, under the 1940 amendment. He died in office in August, 1944.

The long count

In a boxing championship bout, the referee has absolute power in counting up to 10 to end a fighter’s ring career.

Mr. Marcos’ term was to end on Dec. 30, 1973 (eight years from Dec. 30, 1965). That meant a final retirement from politics at age 56. A young ex-president may rejoin politics and accept a lower position such as senator or Cabinet member.

Citing rebellion and other danger/threats to RP’s security, Martial Law was declared on Sept. 21, 1972, that preempted Marcos’ retirement by one year, three months, and nine days.

Absolute power

Martial Law vested absolute power in one man. Mr. Marcos issued decrees, instructions, and administrative orders to reform the government and our society by "changing" the people’s character. He misjudged human nature.

In sum, Mr. Marcos had stretched his term by 12 years, two months, and 25 days from Dec. 30, 1973, and thus ruled RP for a total of 20 years, two months, and 25 days.

This long period of political rule, analysts now note, failed to reform Filipino society and individual trait. Worse, the government officials who were asked to help build the New Society helped themselves in amassing the spoils of absolute power.

Violating a political testament

In the US, George Washington established the tradition of serving two terms only and not to exceed eight years. It became a political testament without need of a constitutional limit in fine print.

But human nature has a broader definition of a political testament. In September, 1901, Republican Theodore Roosevelt became the youngest American, age 42, to assume the presidency of the assassinated William McKinley.

Winning the Nobel

He was a strong leader much admired for reforms. He won the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize for bringing to an end the Russo-Japanese War. In March 1909, serving six months short of Washington’s political creed, Roosevelt left the White House as the youngest ex-president at age 51.

With nothing to do for so active a mind and body, Teddy Roosevelt attempted a comeback by running for president in November, 1912, on a third ticket against President William H. Taft and Democratic nominee Woodrow Wilson. Taft and Roosevelt lost to Wilson.

In November 1940, Teddy Roosevelt’s cousin, FDR, broke precedent by running for president a third time. FDR won his fourth election in November, 1944, but died in office on April 12, 1945.

In February 1951, the 22nd Amendment passed by the Congress limiting the presidential term to eight years was overwhelmingly ratified.