Philippines
Constitutional Background
The 1987 constitution limits the president to a single six-year term. However, government proposals for an amendment suggest that President Fidel Ramos might seek re-election in 1998.
The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) of Nur Misuari is now heading a new Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Develpment which oversees 14 provinces for three years and works towards autonomy for (at least) four Muslim provinces by a plebsicite in 1999 (autonomous Muslim region). Already, 7,000 of the 17,000 MNLF guerrillas have been integrated into the army and police. A violent Christian minority and two breakaway Muslim groups are opposing the deal.
History and News
- 2 Sep 1996: Appointed date for signing a peace treaty with MNLF.
- May 1998: End of term of President Fidel Ramos. He has announced to step down at this time, but then delayed his decision until November 1997. A second term would require changing the constitution.
- 8 Sep 1997: Ramos pledges that the presidential election would not be cancelled, that he would not declare martial law, and that he opposed extending the presidential term.
- May 1996: The ruling coalition proposes an amendment of the constitution that would allow for re-election of the president.
- 1993: A MNLF ceasefire ends civil war.
- 1989: In a plebiscite, 4 Mulsim provinces vote for autonomy.
- 1986: President Ferdinand Marcos is being deposed in a popular revolution under leaders Corazon Aquino and Cardinal Jaime Sin.
- 1972: Martial law is imposed by President Ferdinand Marcos.
- 1970s: More than 70,000 people die in a civil war of the Muslim minority in the South against the Christian majority of the Philippines.