Duterte can’t seek another term under draft federal Charter–Sotto 

Senate President Tito Sotto, President Duterte and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go. INQUIRER file photo

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto said on Saturday that President Rodrigo Duterte cannot seek another term should a federal government be finalized.

Sotto, however, said that Vice President Leni Robredo can run again for an executive seat as the prevailing 1987 Constitution allows her to do so.

“Ang vice president naman pwede talaga magre-election eh, kahit sa Constitution natin ngayon. Sa presidente hindi talaga pwede,” he explained in a radio interview.

(The vice president can really seek re-election even in the present Constitution. For the president, it really cannot happen.)

Sotto also brushed side worries expressed by some over the draft federal Charter being devised by Duterte’s Consultative Committee (Con-com).

“As of now everything stands as a proposal so ‘wag kaagad silang mangamba na eto na (they should not be worried that this is final),” he said.

Under its draft Constitution, the Con-com said the President and the Vice President may seek re-election, although Malacañang earlier denied Duterte has plans to stay in office “a second longer.”

The Senate President, however, stressed that the draft is still in its premature stage.

“Premature. Probably that’s the best word to describe it, premature at this point,” Sotto said.

The Con-com, composed of people from different sectors and technocrats, was tasked by Duterte to review the 1987 Constitution and devise a new federal Charter expected to be completed by July 9. /jpv

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