MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte will not seek an extension of his term after 2022, his spokesman said.
Duterte “has even stated that he would step down from the presidency earlier should the Philippines shift to a federal system of government as early as 2020,” Harry Roque said in a statement.
Roque was reacting to former Supreme Court chief justice Reynato Puno’s comment that Duterte will not be allowed a second term if the Philippines transitions to a federal system.
Puno, in a recent news briefing, said Duterte’s six-year term limit imposed by the 1987 Constitution would still apply to him under a federal constitution.
Puno heads the 20-member Consultative Committee tasked to propose Charter amendments.
“As of now the prohibitions and term limits under the 1987 Constitution would still be binding,” he said.
In February Duterte said he would quit his post if a federal government is established before his term expires.
“If there can be a federal setup in 2020, I’m going to step down. I don’t want any transition position. I don’t have plans of perpetuating myself in power,” the President said./PN
