Duterte not keen on extending term — Palace

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is not interested in extending his term, Malacañang said Monday while noting that amending the Constitution is the only way to postpone the 2022 national elections.

“The President is not interested in extending his term and he leaves it to the Filipino people, the sovereign people to decide if they want to amend the Constitution to postpone the elections,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online press briefing.

Roque had earlier rejected a proposal to postpone the elections and said the Philippines can learn from other countries on how to conduct elections despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It can never be an option for Malacañang unless the Constitution is amended,” Roque said.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque  (Screenshot from PCOO Facebook video)

“Under the new normal, under the new situation, mukhang ang magbabago po ay ang paraan kung paano mangampanya pero patuloy po ang eleksyon,” he added.

(Under the new normal, under the new situation, it appears that the only thing that will change is the way of campaigning, but the elections will push through.)

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier said it has no plans to delay the 2022 national elections, noting that the proposal must come from Congress since this move requires amendment of the Constitution.

Comelec Chairman Sheriff M. Abas. (INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA)

The poll body also said it is eyeing to conduct the 2022 national elections for two to three days should the COVID-19 persist by then.

Last week, House Deputy Majority Leader and Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Mikey Arroyo floated the possibility of postponing the 2022 elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arroyo later on clarified that the idea is only a last resort if the health crisis persists until 2022.

gsg