Pangilinan echoes ‘whispers’ about 10-year extension for Duterte

Sen. Francis Pangilinan. INQUIRER FILE / RICHARD A. REYES

A possible 10-year extension of President Duterte and lawmakers was among the alleged plan of the supermajority in Congress as it pushes for a federal government, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan revealed citing “whispers within Congress.”

In a Facebook post on Thursday, the minority lawmaker urged people to fight for democracy as he listed five possible scenarios once Charter change comes into effect.

This included the planned 10-year transition period to a federal government, which would extend the term of President Duterte, who will be turning 73 on March 28.

Duterte, whose health has been questioned by the opposition, has repeatedly said that he would step down when his term ends in 2022. He also said he could step down as soon as a shift to a federal government was completed.

Pangilinan claimed that Congress would give Duterte the power to create a law similar to the late Dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ Amendment no. 6, which vested lawmaking powers in Marcos alongside the Batasang Pambansa.

“Heto ang iilan sa mga bulong-bulungan sa Kongreso ng mga posibleng amendments tungkol sa minumungkahi na Charter change:

1. May 10 taon na transition period sa federalism na wala munang eleksyon at itutulak ang term extension para sa mga nakaupo.

2. Hindi lang si PRRD ang may term extension, lahat ng kongresista at mga senador term extension din kaya wala ng eleksyon, wala ng gastos ang mga pulitiko, wala ng bababa sa pwesto.

3. At dahil wala ng eleksyon, appointed na muna ang lahat ng mga lokal na opisyal.

4. Bibigyan ng kapangyarihan ang Pangulo na gumawa ng mga batas tulad ng Amendment no. 6 nung panahon ni Marcos habang hindi pa nabubuo ang Federal government.”

5. Tatanggalin na ang restrictions sa exploitation ng dayuhan ng natural resources natin para wala ng hadlang na pumasok ang China at buhusan ng bilyon na pautang at pagnegsyo sa ating mag lupain at karagatan. Heto ba ay ZTE NBN, Northrail scandals part 2?

Pangilinan claims the lifting of restrictions imposed upon foreign investors, particularly China, would allow foreigners to “exploit” the country’s natural resources.

Pangilinan questioned this, saying it could be a “Part Two” of controversial deals of the Arroyo administration with China involving NBN-ZTE contract and the NorthRail project.

“Ipagtanggol ang demokrasya!” Pangilinan said.

“Sigaw ng taumbayan, trabaho, murang pagkain at dagdag na kita hindi Chacha!” he further said.  /cbb