No term extension for President Duterte
‘Digong’ wants to see his grandchild become mayor of Davao
He may not have any personal ambition to stay beyond his term but President Duterte is hopeful that his grandchild will follow his footsteps.
In his visit to Patikul, Sulu last Monday, the President admitted that he wants his grandchild to become mayor of Davao City someday.
“Huwag kayong matakot sa akin hanggang ano lang — matanda na ako eh, matanda na ako. At wala akong bisyo niyang pag-extend nang extend ng term. Hindi lang ninyo alam gaano kapagod (Don’t be afraid of me. I am old. I have no plans to extend my term. You don’t know how it is really tiring),” Duterte said in his impromptu remarks at the handover of loose firearms and surrender of more than 70 Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits to the government.
“Mag-interest na lang ako ’yung apo ko maging mayor ng Davao, okay na 'yan.At least may dumaang mayor na Muslim (I am only interested when my grandchild will become mayor of Davao City. That's okay with me. At least, there will be a Muslim mayor,” he added.
Duterte previously served as mayor of Davao City. His daughter, Sara, is the incumbent mayor of Davao City while his son briefly served as vice mayor.
He noted that Davao has remained “neutral” in terms of religion under the leadership of his daughter. “Lalo na si Inday, ayaw ng bigotry ’yan kasi (Inday does not like bigotry because) they know, I know na part of us belongs to the Moro people,” said the former mayor of Davao City.
Ahead of his 73rd birthday, the President reaffirmed that he was not interested in power, admitting he now gets tired quickly.
“I’m getting old but – I tire easily but I can work... Pwede pa ito hanggang -- and after that, mag-deteriorate na ako (I can still go... and after that, I’ll deteriorate). I’m 73. Tapos matanda na at my age (That’s old at my age),” said Duterte who has been in public service for the past three decades.
In Malacañang, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque echoed Duterte’s disinterest in any term extension, reiterating that the President has even offered to cut his presidency short if a federal system is in place by 2020.
Roque was reacting to a statement by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno that the President would not be allowed to seek reelection nor term extension under the new federal Constitution.
Puno, head of the 20-member consultative committee tasked to review proposed Charter amendments, said the six-year term limit in the 1987 Constitution would still be binding once the country shifts to a federal form of government.
The Palace has no qualms about the term limit for the President, Roque said.
The President is expected to mark his birthday with his family at home in Davao City. His assistant Christopher Go said the President has never been known to throw lavish birthday parties even when he was mayor of Davao City.