Duterte to Marcos: Don’t push your luck on term extension in Cha-cha

MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte warned President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. against taking the path of the latter’s father and namesake, telling him to “not dream of extending [his] term.”

In a press conference aired live on SMNI’s Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa’s page on Thursday night, Duterte suddenly blurted out his supposed stance on Charter change (Cha-cha).

The former chief executive was initially reacting to a media query on the preventive suspension of Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib. With this “suspension,” Duterte accused Marcos of “bringing us back” to what he called old politics.

His tirades went on for a while, but they suddenly shifted, warning Marcos against “dreaming” of extending his term.

“Do not put your luck too far kasi marami pa ring Pilipino na hindi lang umiimik. Ako nga, hindi umiimik eh, pero ‘pag pinilit mo ako — ‘yung bunganga ko talagang bastos, [eh] mapipilitan [akong] bastusin kita. Kung magalit ka sa akin… nasa iyo, patayin mo ako [o] ipakulong mo ako, but remember hindi lulusot ‘yang Cha-cha mo at manatili ‘yung hanggang 6 years ka lang. Malapit na malapit na,” said Duterte.

(Do not put your luck too far because there are many Filipinos just remaining silent. I, myself, have remained silent, but if you push me — my mouth is really foul, and I will be forced to shame you. If you get angry at me, it’s up to you. Kill me or have me jailed, but remember your Cha-cha will not prosper, and your term will only last for six years. It’s very near.)

Marcos earlier directed the Senate to lead the review of proposed economic amendments to the Constitution,  stressing the need to ease “restrictive provisions” to allow more foreign direct investments in the Philippines.

READ: Bongbong Marcos asks Senate to lead review of economic provisions

To note, Marcos earlier admitted that he is more concerned with proposed amendments to the economic rather than political provisions of the Constitution.

“But I think, in the present day, we can have these discussions later on. But for the present day, my concern is the economic provisions, and I don’t want to confuse the issue any longer,” Marcos said then.

Duterte, however, believes that economic provision is the “usual excuse” to pave the way for amendments to other provisions.

READ: The last cha-cha

“So dreaming ka. Sinabi ko sayo, huwag mong pilitin, gaya sa ginawa ng tatay mo. Anak ka ng p*ta, talagang ginagawa mo na. Beware of the consequences sa mga bagay na ito, because do not f**k with the Constitution,” said Duterte.

(You’re dreaming. I told you not to force it just like what your father did. Son of b***h, you’re really doing it. Beware of the consequences, because you do not f**k with the Constitution.)

Duterte’s opposition to Cha-cha earlier drew criticism since the former chief executive favors federalism.

READ: Romualdez: Why does ex-president Duterte slam Cha-cha but favor federalism?

To recall, shifting to a federal form of government was one of the focuses of the Duterte administration at the start of his presidency. Four months before he stepped down from his post, he admitted that he gave up on pursuing it because it was a “futile endeavor.”