A unitary-to-federal form of government shift may extend President Rodrigo Duterte’s term, according to Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel on Wednesday.
There are, however, three things to consider.
“We can extend the President’s term: One, if really necessary; two, if he is amenable to it; and three, since that extension will be part of the new Constitution, the new Constitution is approved by the people themselves,” the Senator told reporters in a text message.
According to Pimentel, this all depends on the “transitory provisions” that will be agreed upon by the Constituent assembly (Con-ass).
“Depends too on when we approve the new Constitution. If 2019, then the next three years will be the transitory period,” he further said.
Duterte’s term of six years will end in 2022.
The President has been consistent in promoting federalism as the key to address the concerns of citizens better, and to a long-lasting peace with the Moros in Mindanao, since a unitary government, the country’s current form of government, allows most power to be concentrated in the central government. While a federal setup allows local government units more administrative powers such as establishing courts, implementing of business regulations, and the like.
However, Duterte has mentioned several times that he has no intentions of extending his term. In fact, he has for many times said that he is willing to step down from his presidency.
Meanwhile, in an interview with ANC, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said that the government’s number one priority this 2018 is the shift to federalism, which can, in turn, cancel the elections in 2019.
Alvarez who is the Secretary-General of the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in which Pimentel is the President, and Duterte is the Chairman, also mentioned that federalism is one of the party’s advocacies.