Roque: Term extension is Duterte’s ‘ultimate nightmare’

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (Photo by JOAN BONDOC / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Staying in office even a day longer after his term expires in 2022 would be the “ultimate nightmare” for President Rodrigo Duterte, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Monday.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Roque reiterated that Duterte would not want his term extended, a possiblity floated by some of his allies in Congress.

“Not even a day longer. To him that’s the ultimate nightmare,” Roque said. “He wants to finish his term. He wants to give it his best shot and that’s it.”

Last week, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said that Duterte’s term might be extended beyond 2022 if the country would become a federal state.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said a “no-election (no-el)” scenario was possible in 2019.

“He has said that, if we are able to amend the Constitution to provide for provisions that would strengthen institution, safeguard against graft and corruption that he would want to cut short his term,” Roque said. “So what he has said is, if the Constitution is amended, you know, so that it would be more responsive to the needs of the people, he is willing to let go, beecause he is not keen really on staying as President. That’s the truth.”

READ: Roque: Duterte has no wish to extend term

“In other words, he wants to make institutional changes, particularly on the Constitution and that appears to be his short term, medium, long term objective,” Roque added. “If that’s met, then there’s no use for him to stay. But, he has never, ever, ever said that he is willing to stay one minute longer beyond his terms in 2022.”

Asked about the possibility that there would be no elections in 2019, Roque said Duterte would abide by the Constitution, which mandates that there will be a midterm election in May 2019 unless it would be ammended.

“He is the chief implementor of the Constitution and because of this he will abide by the terms of the Constitution,” Roque said. “When the Constitution says that the next election will be in May of 2019, he will implement that. And he promises that the next election in 2019 will be the cleanest that we will ever had.” /atm