Former President Rodrigo Duterte said that he is in favor of amending the economic provisions of the Constitution through Charter Change (Cha-Cha) as long as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will assure that he will not use it to extend his term.
Speaking before a huge crowd during the Hakbang ng Maisug candlelight prayer rally in Cebu City on Sunday, the former president said he will support Cha-Cha but emphasized that the provision won’t be applicable to the current sitting president.
“Kay mao ra man iyang naabtan. Kung unsa iyang naabtan. Six years, one term, kutob lang ka diha,” Duterte explained.
The former president added that the Constitution may be changed as long as there is no self-vested interest involved.
“Sa pag bag-o sa provisions sa Constitution wala koy problema dinha even sa provision sa term of the president. Ang ako lang gusto na mensahe para sa tanan naminaw mag Cha-Cha man ta ug unsa man paagi, People’s Iniative ug Constitutional Convention, we can really change anything for as long as there is no vested interest nakapatong diha. Ayaw pag usba ang Constitution para mupabor kanimo nga naglingkod dira ug mangita pa ug usa ka termino,” he said.
Duterte bared that it was the late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. who started the idea of revising the Constitution, however, he failed.
“Sad to say, dili ni pangdaut sa presidente ug karon, ang una gyud nga presidente nga nagpauso aning Cha-Cha si Presidente Marcos Sr. Nisulpot na pud ning Cha-Cha diri sa anak pag usab. I would support any changes in the Constitution that would improve or whatever or make Filipinos happy, I am for it, walay problema basta wala nay musulod na interest para ugma nila (Marcos),” Duterte said.
The former president also said he has no problem with the Congressmen as long as they don’t tinker with the Constitution.
“Sa atong mga Congressmen wala koy problema. Ang problema nako ang inyong kaugmaon nga inyong iseguro labi na muingon mo nga kung naay bag-ong Constitution magpabilin mo nga as you are, where you are, steady sunod election, you do not tinker with the constitution. Kay kung imo gani na hilabtan pareho sa gihimo ni Marcos Sr. purya gaba lang kay wala naman,” he said.
He added that because of the idea of changing the term limits of the president, the Filipinos have to endure almost 20 years for just one person.
“Komportable nata sa unom ka tuig, one term, let us stick to that. Mas maayo para kanako kung unsa ilang gusto kay mao man ilang pasangil pirmi nga gusto abrihan ang economic provisions. Niadto pa na bisan kinsa pa ang presidente mao na ilang gusto kung inaton ang termino. Mao nay naka apan.
Wala koy problema sa presidente karon. Wala pa man pud. Ako musuporta changes in the Constitution, economic provisions whatever even the terms sa tanan chapter dinha apil na ang termino sa president, okay ko basta dili mupabor sa galingkod karon ug sa sunod na election,” Duterte said.
