MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday reiterated that President Rodrigo Duterte is not interested in extending his term beyond June 2022 amid a renewed push for charter change in Congress.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the president has previously made it clear that he has no intention of clinging to power in response to rumors that the charter change move was to keep Duterte in office beyond his six-year term.
Roque said Duterte is focused on the government’s response against novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the roll out of the vaccine.
“Wala pong ibang top priority ang pangulo kundi matapos po itong pandemyang ito sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng bakuna sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Two administration allies – Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Francis Tolentino – in December filed a resolution asking both chambers of Congress to convene as a Constituent Assembly to discuss proposals to amend some provisions of the constitution.
The House of Representatives has scheduled a hearing on January 13 to tackle the proposed charter change while the Senate is planning to hold a caucus to discuss the issue.
Roque said discussions on whether to amend the Constitution is the legislators’ sole and exclusive prerogative. — RRD (with details from Correspondent Rosalie Coz)
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