DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte has asked Congress to approve the draft of the new constitution under the Federalist form of government before his term ends in 2022.
He said Friday he would gladly step down from his office and relinquish his post for the transition from a unilateral form of government to a federalist form.
“The Constitution now being crafted…is being reviewed by Congress, but the Consultative Committee [headed by former Chief] Justice Puno can make this correction and I suggest Congress approve it,” he said.
Duterte then asked Congress to elect a president before the transition of the new form of government.
“Make my term co-terminus, with the beginning of the draft constitution. Make me stop being President during the transition. In other words, elect a President before you make the transition from unitary to federal,” Duterte said.
He also asked the team of Puno to make the final revision of the draft of the new constitution and make his term only until 2019.
He also asked Vice President Leni Robredo to take his post after the approval once the transition took place if she would like to.
“Make the changes now. Make me resign or ask me to step down by a Constitutional fiat that there will be an election before we proceed with the adoption of the Constitution,” he said.
He censured rumors his reason behind the transition of government was that he wanted to extend his term as President of the country.
“You said I want to be President beyond 2022? Of course not. Sorry to disappoint you. Excuse me, I’m not like that,” Duterte said.
The Consultative Committee tasked to review the 1987 Constitution, written by a Constitutional Commission appointed by President Corazon Aquino a year after she was swept to power by a largely peaceful Catholic Church-backed revolution, approved the draft of the proposed federal constitution on July 3.
The committee plans to submit the draft to Duterte on or before July 9.