Reasons for Aquino’s term extension ‘hogwash’ – Duterte

Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. INQUIRER MINDANAO FILE PHOTO

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – “Don’t give us hogwash,” Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said over the statement from Malacañang planners to let the President extend his term to “save democracy.”

“If you want (the President) to run, then, give us a good reason,” Duterte said Sunday over his weekly television program “Gikan sa masa, para sa masa.”

“It can be to sustain the program of government, or you want him to stay because he’s honest— but to tell us to save democracy? We have a good democracy, don’t give us hogwash,” Duterte said.

Duterte said it was not the President, who has not yet said anything about his plans whether or not to extend his term, but his “rah-rah boys,” who must be making the statement.

“I’m a bit pissed off, it seems insulting to the Filipino,” he was heard mumbling during the show.

“Give us a good reason, say you want him again because he’s honest. I worked with him in Congress and he was really honest, but to tell us he needed to do it to save democracy, we already have a good democracy, it’s just a matter of the Constitution which only limits the President to one term,” said Duterte.

Earlier in the week, Duterte was quoted by reporters as saying “don’t be a savior of the world,” referring to President Aquino over the proposal to extend his term as President.

“It’s our Constitution, which only allows the president to run once,” Duterte said.

“This Constitutional disqualification attaches itself to the person, so, even if you say, you would change the Constitution to allow him to run, he’s already disqualified to run,” he added.

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