Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga’s 3rd District stated on Monday that the president and vice president will not benefit from the approval of a planned constitutional change that would enable the president and vice president to run for reelection.

“Kung ma-approve ito this 19th Congress, mags-start ito sa 2025. Nasa midterm ang ating Pangulo at ating Vice-President. Sa palagay ko di na sila pwede tumakbo dito,” Gonzales, author of House Resolution No. 1, said in an interview with ANC.

“Kaya ang sabi ko, former presidents di na sila pwede tumakbo dito sa bagong batas,” he continued.

Last Monday, Gonzales reintroduced a proposal he introduced in the 17th and 18th Congresses that would limit the president and vice president’s administrations to five years but enable them to run for reelection once.

This differs from the 1987 Constitution, which enables a president to serve only one six-year term without being re-elected.

Gonzales also seeks to “modify” the terms of office of House members, including district and party-list representatives, and local executive officials, with the exception of senators and barangay elected officials.

The Pampanga Representative emphasized the importance of changing the term restrictions during the epidemic since there was a need for “continuity” in the government’s COVID-19 approach and activities.

The lawmaker also supported the legislation against opponents, claiming that it was not “self-serving” because it did not apply to officials serving their final mandates, including him.

“Definitely in my case, hindi self-serving ‘yan. As I’ve said this is my last term. Maswerte ‘yung mga second term mayroon po silang natitirang isang term so they can still run in the positions pero kung ma-approve ito ang termino nila is 5 years lang. That’s their last term. Sa mga first-terms, ganoon din po. Bale, incumbent ka ngayon, you are in your 2nd term and then maguire-elect ka that’s your last term for five years,” he stated.

According to political expert Edmund Tayao, a single term for a president is “not really advisable,” yet other nations that enforced the change have adopted it.

“The single term is not really advisable. Especially that immediately when you elect a president, there’s a lack of mechanism by which the people can get back and have him accountable for a second term,” Tayao added.