DAVAO CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday urged Congress and the Consultative Committee (ConCom) to make changes in the draft Federal Constitution providing his term as co-terminus with the beginning of the draft law.
Duterte said this means that there should be an election of a new president during the transition from unitary to a federal form of government. ConCom has already approved the draft Federal Constitution and is expected to submit the proposal to the President on Monday (July 9).
“Make final the changes and make me president only next year – 2019,” the President urged. “I would be willing to accept the proposal.”
Duterte made the call during the 2018 National Science Week opening at the SMX Convention Center here to end speculations that he would seek a term extension under a new federal government.
“Sorry to disappoint you. Excuse me,” he said to those accusing him of wanting to stay in power if the country shifts to federalism by 2020.
The President urged ConCom to work on it and make him step down by Constitutional fiat before adopting the Constitution.
He said this would also satisfy the members of the opposition, who, he said, are so engrossed that every time they look at the proposal, they accuse him of making his term longer.
“If that will satisfy the ladies, (Vice President Leni) Robredo. Ikaw na (It’s for you). You can have it. If you want — yan sagot ko sa iyo (that’s my answer to you),” Duterte said.
He said the Vice President should convince her colleagues in Congress to approve his proposal.
Duterte has repeatedly assured he would step down after his term.
The opposition has speculated that Duterte would seek a new term if the country shifts to federalism by 2020 after a member of the ConCom was quoted as saying that incumbent officials, including Duterte, can run under the new Constitution.
The chairman of the ConCom’s sub-committee on political reforms, Julio Teehankee, reportedly said there is no ban, so incumbents can run under a new Constitution because it’s like a reboot or a reset.
He said under the draft Federal Charter, all elected officials will have a term of four years and eligible to one re-election from the president all the way down to the mayors. (Lilian Mellejor/PNA)
