NO DESPERATE ATTEMPT. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque debunks critics claim that the proposal to amend the 1987 Constitution is a desperate attempt of President Rodrigo Duterte to hold on to power during his regular Palace press briefing on Thursday (June 3, 2021). Roque said Duterte will never go beyond his term office on June 30 next year. (Screengrab from RTVM)
MANILA – Malacañang on Thursday debunked critics’ claim that the proposal to amend the 1987 Constitution is another “desperate” attempt of President Rodrigo Duterte to hold on to power.
On Tuesday night, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the proposed revisions to the restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, in an online press briefing, said Duterte never had a hand in the House lawmakers’ move to introduce reforms to the 1987 Constitution’s economic provisions.
“Unang-una po, ‘yung pagpu-propose ng amendments ay nasa hurisdiksyon at katungkulan po ng ating Kongreso dahil sila po ay bumubuo ng constituent assembly to propose amendments to the Constitution. Trabaho po nila ‘yun. Wala pong kinalaman ang Presidente diyan (First and foremost, the proposed amendments are within the jurisdiction and part of the mandate of our Congress because they’re forming a constituent assembly to propose amendments to the Constitution. That’s their job. The President has nothing to do with that),” Roque said.
Former Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano, who was also Duterte’s former Agrarian Reform chief, slammed the Chief Executive’s supposedly “desperate attempt” to stay in power through the proposed amendments to the Constitution.
The House of Representatives on Tuesday adopted Resolution of Both Houses No. 2 which introduces economic amendments to the Charter to open up the Philippines to direct investments that could help the country recover from the adverse impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Under the resolution, the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” will be included in several sections of the Constitution that restrict foreign ownership of public utilities, educational institutions, media, and advertising companies.
The proposal also aims to amend certain economic Charter provisions, specifically Articles XII (National Economy and Patrimony), XIV (Education, Science, Technology, Arts, Culture, and Sports), and XVI (General Provisions).
Roque said the proposed amendments are only limited to the economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution.
“Taumbayan po ang magdedesisyon kung sila ay papabor sa mga amendment na ipu-propose. Pangalawa, wala pong proposals sa ngayon na nagsasabing palalawigin ang termino ng ating Presidente (It’s still up to the people to decide whether they are in favor or not of the proposed amendments. Second there are no proposals that would extend the President’s term),” he said.
Roque said it is “baseless” to accuse Duterte of having an ulterior motive to extend his term in office beyond 2022.
“So, wala pong basehan ‘yung sinasabi na na merong desperadong tangka para manatili sa kapangyarihan. Hinding-hindi po mananatili bilang presidente si Presidente Duterte beyond his term office on June 30 of next year (So, there is no basis to say that there is a desperate attempt to hold on to power. President Duterte will never go beyond his term office on June 30 of next year),” he said.
Duterte’s ruling political party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan adopted Monday a resolution to convince him to join the vice presidential race and choose the party’s presidential candidate in the 2022 elections.
Roque, however, said Duterte has yet to make a decision, and stressed that the President is focused on addressing the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Pinag-iisipan pa po ni Presidente ang nominasyon niya as vice president at wala pa rin naman pong desisyon (The President is still contemplating about his nomination as vice president and he has no decision yet),” he said. (PNA)
