The draft charter allows Duterte to seek a new mandate

The draft constitution replacing the presidential system by a federal government opens the possibility for President Rodrigo Duterte to remain in power until 2030, said Sunday spokesman for the 22-member advisory body who drafted the proposed federal charter.

But Conrado Generoso quickly clarified that a term extension for the president was not a cat in the bag that members of the advisory committee headed by retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno have tried to hide from the public.

"New Beginning for All"

"When you change the Constitution and the system of government, it becomes a new beginning for all.This is the natural effect" said Generoso to the Inquirer by phone.

"In this perspective, he [the President] can run again in elections," he said. "It's a natural consequence of changing the Constitution."

If the Congress, which is controlled by the President's political allies, adopts the draft charter, it will give the chief executive the opportunity to apply for two four-year terms

Generoso a pointed out that the provisions of the draft charter were mere recommendations that the President and the Congress could or could not approve.

He said that he was puzzled by the clamor on social media for the advisory committee to release the draft charter that was unanimously approved by the panel on July 3.

"Suddenly, it has become the most sought-after document in the universe," said Mr. Generoso. "What is the reason for that?" Interestingly enough, Puno had already said that the draft constitution banned the president, whose leadership style was compared to that of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, to retain power beyond his control. six-year term, which would end on June 30, 2022.

Draft submitted today

The committee has not yet published the approved draft, which will be presented to the President today, fueling speculation that the body was trying to keep some of its controversial provisions from the public.

Generoso said that preventing the president from seeking the presidency under the proposed federal government would be "undemocratic" and "discriminatory". "

Generoso noted that the 1987 Constitution, which was drafted after the 1986 revolution of the popular power Edsa, overthrew the Mar The dictatorship of cos, n? at not prevented then President Corazon Aquino from challenging the presidential race in 1992.

He said that the changes in the 1935 and 1973 charters also did not rule out the possibility for President Manuel Quezon and Marcos,

"The (new) Constitution or any other law can not have provisions that prevent a particular individual from enjoying the rights and privileges that the Constitution confers on everyone," he said. principle of democracy, "he said. "It was only President Corazon Aquino's personal decision not to run in 1992."

"Only the Country Should Benefit"

But Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, president of the ruling PDP Laban's party, said that no politician, not even the president , should benefit from the proposed federal constitution.

"It is quite logical in the revision exercise of the Constitution that we do not want anyone to benefit from it." Pimentel said in a radio interview

"If you are already disqualified , the new Constitution should not revive your qualification, "he said.

Pimentel said that the committee already had He clarified that Mr. Duterte would no longer be qualified to run for the presidency under the new Proposed Constitution.

Limiting Provision

The President has often said that he would not stay beyond his six-year term.

Friday, amid rumors according to which the proposed federal constitution would lift the limit of the single term, the president said that he was not seeking such a result.

Speaking in his hometown, Davao City, he headed the Puno. in place a provision that it would require him to resign before the formation of a transitional government.

"To make my mandate coincide with the beginning of the draft constitution," said the president

. Gress and Puno to make the last changes, "he said – With reports by Julie M. Aurelio, DJ Yap and the sons