Duterte won’t stay ‘a second longer’; ex-solon warns of dictatorship

President Duterte is not interested in staying in power beyond 2022 even if the proposed Charter for a federal form of government allows him to seek reelection and serve until 2030.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made this assertion on Friday after a member of the consultative committee, which Mr. Duterte had formed to recommend changes in the Constitution, said there was no ban preventing him from running for President again.

“The President has repeatedly said: Not a second beyond his term in 2022,” Roque said in a text message to reporters.

‘Like a reboot’

But Julio Teehankee, chair of the subcommittee on political reforms, told Cignal TV’s “One News” there was no ban prohibiting Mr. Duterte from seeking a second term.

“It’s like a reboot. It’s a reset,” Teehankee said.

Bayan Muna party-list chair  and former Rep. Neri Colmenares on Friday warned that the transitory provisions of the federal Constitution would virtually lead to a dictatorship under Mr. Duterte.

In a statement, Colmenares noted the proposed creation of a federal transition commission, which would promulgate the rules during the 2019-2022 transition period.

Judicial power

He said the commission, to be headed by Mr. Duterte, would effectively be “granted the judicial power” over issues hounding the transition to a federal government.

“This means that President Duterte, through his transition commission, can take away powers of any government office or official and transfer it to his favored few,” he said.