MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has once again rejected the idea of extending his term beyond 2022.
“Akala nila, may term extension. My God, maski ibigay mo sa akin on a silver platter, maski ibigay mo sa akin another 10 years. Sasabihin ko sa’yo, iyo na lang iyan, tapos na ako,” Duterte said Thursday.
The President’s statement came amid concerns that the constitutional amendments that are being pushed by the Congress would extend the terms of incumbent officials, including lawmakers and the chief executive.
The House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Amendments on Wednesday began hearing a proposal to amend the “restrictive” economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque also said that President Duterte was not interested in term extension, as he is focused on the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Wala pong katuturan iyang mga tsismis na iyan,” Roque said. “The President has made it clear, wala po siyang kahit anong kagustuhan na manatili ng isang minuto man lang beyond his term of office.”
“Wala pong ibang top priority ang Pangulo kung hindi matapos po itong pandemyang ito sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng bakuna sa ating mga kababayan,” the Palace spokesperson added.
Two administration senators – Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Francis Tolentino – also filed a resolution in December asking the Senate and House of Representatives to convene as a constituent assembly for the purpose of amending the Constitution.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III, however, reiterated that President Duterte does not want a term extension but rather an amendment to the party-list system./PN
