Palace maintains Duterte won’t stay in power after 2022

FILE: The Palace maintained on Friday, July 6, that President Rodrigo Duterte has no desire to stay in office beyond his term which will end in 2022. (ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

The Palace maintained on Friday, July 6, that President Rodrigo Duterte has no desire to stay in office beyond his term which will end in 2022.

“PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) has repeatedly said: not a second beyond his term in 2022. He has said what he said: not a second longer,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a message sent to reporters.

Roque issued his remarks after Julio Teehankee, chairman of the Consultative Committee’s (Con-com’s) sub-committee on political reforms, said Duterte and Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo can seek reelection under the proposed federal government constitution.

“There’s no ban. They can run under a new constitution kasi parang reboot ‘yan eh (because it is like a reboot), it’s a reset,” Teehankee said in an interview on One News’ “The Chiefs” on Wednesday, July 4.

Under the proposed charter, Teehankee noted that all elected officials — from the President down to mayors — will have a four-year term with one reelection. If this will be ratified in 2022, Duterte can stay in power until 2030.

The Chief Executive has repeatedly said he has no plans on staying in office beyond his prescribed six-year term.

In his speech in Marawi City last May, Duterte announced he was ready to step down once the Philippines has shifted to a federal form of government

“Ako naman, kung matapos ‘yang BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law) o ‘yang federalism, sabi ko nga, by 2020, kung nandiyan na ‘yan at magsabi na kailangan ng eleksyon na bago (For me, if the BBL or federalism will be completed by 2020, if it is in place and requires new election), I will step down,” Duterte said in a speech in Marawi City last May.

“Good for 2022 pa ako. Pero pagka may federal set-up na, baba ako. Bigay ko na sa — Mamili kayo ng leader ninyo (I’m still good until 2022. But once there is already a federal set-up, I will step down. I will hand it to — you choose your leader). I’m ready to retire,” he added.

Duterte previously said he hopes to have an election where good leaders will come out to lead the new federal government.