PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Friday he has no intention to stay in office beyond the six-year mandate he got from over 16-million voters in the May 9 national elections.
”For those who are talking about [an extension] beyond my term, [there will be] no second term,” President Duterte said in a speech during ceremonies to mark the turnover of command at the Philippine National Police to Director General Ronald dela Rosa.
Duterte has been pushing for Charter change primarily to shift the government to a federal system to federalism and not to extend his term.
”God, you just don’t know how I would be happy [if] we can accelerate the time and we have done the six years already. On the last day, I am going out whether you like it or not,” the President said.
In his inaugural speech on Thursday, President Duterte said he accepted the challenge to run for President “because I love my country and the people of the Philippines.”
Saying he is ready to start his work for the nation, Duterte asked both the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to help him put a stop to criminality, illegal drugs and corruption.
The President also attended the Change of Command rites of the AFP which now has Lt. Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya as its chief of staff, replacing acting Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Glorioso V. Miranda.
In his speech Friday, Duterte also thanked former President Fidel Ramos for convincing him to run for president.
He recalled that Ramos was the first person to visit him in Davao and spent three hours with him at the Marco Polo Hotel and told him it was time that Mindanao had a president.
Despite his misgivings, he said, he drew inspiration from Ramos.
“I won because Ramos was there for me,” he added.
Incoming Speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez on Friday filed House Concurrent Resolution No. 1 calling for a Constitutional Convention to change the current presidential, unitary form of government to a federal system.
Alvarez, secretary-general of President Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, said that changing the present form of government would accelerate growth, especially in the countryside.
But Alvarez said that effecting federalism through a constitutional commission made up of lawmakers and other sectoral representatives was “practical and less expensive” than a Constitutional Convention, which would require an election of delegates.
Alvarez said the HCR No. 1 was in response to President Duterte’s desire to implement changes in the country towards national development.
“Federalism will allow divergence, like in culture and in religion,” Alvarez said in an interview.
He said the House leadership of the incoming 17th Congress intends to pass the concurrent resolution in September.
In the coming days, Alvarez is expected to file measures that respond to Duterte’s major advocacies such as bills on reinstating the death penalty and amendments to Juvenile Justice Act. With Maricel V. Cruz, PNA