‘Not a second longer’ in Palace for Duterte

MALACAÑANG on Friday said President Rodrigo Duterte would not go beyond his six-year term that ends in 2022 over reports that he can stay in power until 2030 under a proposed charter for a federal government.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. reiterated that Duterte has no desire to extend his rule under the proposal.

“PRRD [ President Rodrigo Roa Duterte] has repeatedly said: Not a second beyond his term in 2022,” Roque told reporters in a text message.

“He has said what he said: Not a second longer,” the Palace official said.

Roque made the statement after Julio Teehankee of the Consultative Commission ( ConCom) said there is no provision that prohibits Duterte, or even

Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, from seeking reelection under the proposed federal charter.

“Their terms will end in 2022. There’s no ban. They can run under a new Constitution,” Teenhankee, chairman of the ConCom’s subcommittee on political reforms, said during an interview over Cignal TV’s One News.

In the proposed charter, all elected with possible reelection.

Duterte will be allowed to run for a new four-year term, and then another reelection for another term that will end in 2030, if the new Constitution would take effect on 2022.

there will be no term extension for proposed federal government.

Under the 1987 Constitution, Duterte and Robredo cannot seek reelection.

Duterte, 73, has repeatedly said he was willing to give up the highest position in the land, if a new federal state pushes through.

Critics have warned that the proposed shift in the system of government would allow Duterte to extend his presidency.

Christian Monsod, a framer of the 1987 Constitution, questioned the Duterte administration’s push for a change into a federal form of government, saying this might just be a “Trojan horse” for the President’s possible intention to perpetuate his term beyond 2022.

“But if [Durterte] wants to stay in power beyond 2022, the only legal way to do it is by Charter change, with a new Constitution that allows him to run again... In other words, the question is: Is federalism a Trojan horse to stay in power?” Monsod asked.

On Thursday, the ConCom tasked to propose amendments to the 1987 of its proposed federal charter to be submitted to Duterte.

The President is expected to endorse the draft in his State of the Nation Address on July 23.