MANILA — Although previous administrations have tried but failed to amend the 1987 Constitution, President Rodrigo R. Duterte in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday thanked the Consultative Committee (ConCom) for drafting a federal constitution and submitting it to him last July 9.
“Four administrations before me have all tried to amend the Constitution to be able to introduce amendments and reservations to the Charter — revisions rather to the Charter. But none of them was successfully done for one reason or another,” Duterte said in his SONA at the House of Representatives in Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.
“I therefore consider it a distinct honor and privilege to have received earlier from the Consultative Committee that I created, the draft federal constitution that will truly embody the ideals and aspirations of all the Filipino people,” he added.
Duterte gave special thanks to those who came out from their retirement including ConCom chairperson, former Chief Justice Reynato Puno and member and former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr.
Duterte, meanwhile, stressed that he has no intention to stay beyond the end of his term in 2022 regardless of what Constitution is in place.
“I have no illusions of occupying this office one day longer than what the Constitution under which I was elected permits; or under whatever Constitution there might be,” Duterte said.
Last July 9, Duterte approved the ConCom’s draft Federal Constitution in toto except for transitory provisions.
The ConCom’s draft charter assigned Duterte as chairman of the Federal Transition Commission (FTC). However, Duterte wanted it amended to allow the election of a transition president to lead the shift to a federal system of government.
Duterte, 73, said he wanted to step down as early as 2019 should the Filipinos ratify the federal charter.
Last July 17, the ConCom presented to the Senate, the final copy of the draft federal constitution which now requires an election of a transition president and transition vice president in tandem within six months from ratification of the Constitution. It also bars Duterte from running in the 2022 general elections.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, quoting Duterte, said electing a transition president would “enable a younger leader to take over” since the President was already “tired.”
It would erase suspicion that Duterte wanted to stay in power, Roque said.