DUTERTE BACKS MARCOS ON ECONOMIC CHA-CHA

FORMER president Rodrigo Duterte said he was “comfortable supporting” his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in easing economic restrictions in the Constitution.

Addressing a rally in Cebu City on Sunday, Duterte said he was open to introducing amendments to the Constitution as long as they do not propose term extensions for incumbent officials.

He also said Marcos had not committed any “big mistake” as president so far.

“Maybe those below him, but him, I haven’t heard anything. So, I continue to support him,” Duterte said.

He said he would continue to back Marcos so long as he steps down at the end of his six-year term.

He advised Marcos not to “follow the path” of his late father and namesake, who stayed in power for over two decades until he was overthrown during the EDSA Revolution in 1986.

“Just end your trip and then let go and let the Constitution work,” Duterte said.

The President has repeatedly said that he is only pushing for changes in the economic provisions of the Constitution to attract more investors to the country.

Just several weeks ago, Duterte and Marcos were firing broadsides at each other.

Duterte had labeled the President as a “drug addict” who is often “high” while performing his duties.

The President fired back by saying, “It’s the fentanyl,” referring to a strong anti-pain medication that was triggering Duterte’s tirades.

During a press briefing Monday, some members of the House of Representatives welcomed Duterte’s support for economic Charter change (Cha-cha).

Isabela Rep. Faustino “Inno” Dy 5th described the former president’s backing as “a welcome development.”

House Deputy Speaker David “Jayjay” Suarez said he was “very happy with Duterte’s statements, but he would be a lot happier “if the same can be echoed by” Duterte’s supporters.

Suarez said the House has “been consistent” in pushing for an “economic Cha-cha.”

Also on Monday, the House, acting as a committee of the whole, started deliberations on Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 7, which lists the specific provisions that need to be amended.

RBH 7 seeks the same amendments as RBH 6, filed in the Senate earlier.

The two resolutions both cover Article XII (Section 11), Article XIV (paragraph 2 of Section 4), and Article XVI (paragraph 2 of Section 11) of the Constitution.

They both seek to add the words “unless otherwise provided by law” to the provisions and the word “basic” before the words “educational institutions” in the first sentence of paragraph 2, Section 4 of Article XIV.

RBH 7, however, does not have the words “each House voting separately.”