Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Shortened term still up to people, Duterte says

It's still up to Filipinos whether they would allow President Rodrigo Duterte to cut short his term to pave the way for a transition leadership under a new federal constitution, the Chief Executive said on Tuesday.

"It’s a suggestion. They are free to accept it or not, kung ayaw nila, ayaw ng tao eh hindi because I am elected to serve until 2022," Duterte told reporters in Clark, Pampanga on Tuesday.

Duterte wants the guidelines for the proposed shift from a unitary to federal form of government, to provide for an elected leader during the transition, contrary to the Consultative Committee original proposal that he lead a 10-member Federal Transition Commission.

The Con-com later proposed elections not only for a transition president but also for a transition vice president if the proposed federal constitution is ratified in a plebiscite before 2022.

This proposed provision will cut short the term of not only Duterte but also of Vice President Leni Robredo.

"I would rather not even [lead] during the transition, I would like to cease being President and somebody else take over. If they can call a presidential election, madali man lang yan, it’s a one day affair. One ballot. One name," Duterte said.

"At the start of the transition government, if it is already assembled and it’s not shaky, it’s working and the structure can be a platform for governance, eh di walang problema. By that time I should go," he added.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte wanted “someone younger” to be elected by the people to serve as a transition leader until the proposed constitution takes effect in 2022.

He said that anyone who was qualified to run for the position of president could also seek the post of transition leader. —NB, GMA News

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