Palace says charter change should ensure Duterte steps down in 2022

Malacañang on Tuesday said Congress must make transitory provisions in the amended Constitution which will ensure President Rodrigo Duterte leaves his office in 2022. (RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

Malacañang on Tuesday said Congress must make transitory provisions in the amended Constitution which will ensure President Rodrigo Duterte leaves his office in 2022.

“They better provide a provision that would mean the President will step down in 2022,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said during a press conference.

Duterte earlier said that he does not wish to extend his term, despite pushing for Charter change (Cha-cha).

Transitory provisions are meant to ensure a smooth shift into a new Constitution establishing the Philippine government into a federal form, which is among Duterte’s main campaign platforms.

Earlier this month, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said that Duterte’s six-year term may be extended as it may be part of a transition period once an amended Constitution begins a shift from unitary to a federal form of government.

However, the President on Monday directed government forces to shoot him if he dares to go beyond his term even for a day.

“Inyong trabaho ‘yan (that’s your job), to protect the Constitution, and to protect the people. Remember it as a solemn duty. Kaya ako ‘pag sumobra, gusto kong mag-diktador, barilin ninyo ako. Hindi ako nagbobola (If I go beyond my term and I would want to be a dictator, shoot me. I’m not kidding),” he added.

Roque said the transitory provision should ensure the election of a new Chief Executive, unless Congress approved the constitutional succession wherein Vice President Leni Robredo seats as the new president during the transition period.

The Palace official said that majority in Congress would not want it to happen.

“I don’t think majority would want constitutional succession,” he said.

“Unless they want Leni Robredo to take over as transition leader then they should make a transitory provision that would, for all intents and purposes, make sure that we would have a new president in 2022,” he added.