Former president Rodrigo Duterte expressed disappointment for not being able to achieve everything he promised during the 2016 campaign including the shifting into a federal system.
“You cannot have your cake and eat it too. Ang Diyos may ibigay sa iyo, may hindi. Hindi lahat ng kaligayahan na gusto mo makamtan mo sa mundong ito. There will always be disappointments,” said the former president during a press conference in Davao City on Tuesday.
It can be recalled that Duterte campaigned for decentralization and a shift to a federal government during the 2016 presidential election.
In a forum in October 2014 prior to joining the presidential race, the then-mayor of Davao City called for the creation of two federal states for Moro people as a solution to the problems besetting Mindanao.
During the recent presser, the former president reiterated his opposition on the proposed changing of the provisions of the constitution.
He emphasized that says changes must benefit the interest of Filipinos and not be used to prolong term of officials of the current administration.
Duterte also said that he still prefers the presidential-type of government.
“I am comfortable with a presidential-type of government. Its a republican form of government, presidential-type. Huwag na nating palitan kasi yan na ang naabutan ng lolo at apo ko. Kung naubusan na kayo ng ideas bakit ninyo ibalandra sa gobyerno at sa tao. Ilang beses ba tayo mag fix ng Constitution? If there was a flaw or flawed one? okay, we make changes. What else should be done? Something else? But not the prolonging of the barangay captains or the President,” he said.
He reiterated that he is supporting constitutional amendments as long as it will not affect the term limit.
