Duterte willing to end term early if federalism is passed

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday expressed his readiness to step down from power if a federal and parliamentary form of government is adopted via constitutional amendments in his fourth or fifth year in office.

In his first State of the Nation Address, Duterte that there must be a president who should head the parliamentary and federal government.

He, however, said that such head of government would not be him.

"I can commit today to the Republic of the Philippines that if you will hurry up the federal system of government and you can submit ito to the Filipino people by the fourth or fifth year, you call for a referendum, and after that call for a presidential election," Duterte said.

"Then I will go. Sibat na ako," he added.

Duterte said the country should adopt the system of the French parliament which has a president.

He went on saying that a pure parliamentary system would be a delicate situation since the government has no single apparatus in running the government.

“You must have a president. You copy the France system. ‘Wag mo hayaan yung puro na parliament, delikado. There is no one apparatus from the commander-in-chief down,” he added.

Duterte can't afford not to have a president.

“Limitahan mo lang. Ceremonial powers, power to dissolve, power to accept the resolution or whatever, mandate to do this, do that. Ceremonial powers except in times of need," Duterte said.

Duterte noted he was willing to call for a presidential election the following day or week if Congress passes the amendments.

He added he would no longer seeks to run for president anew under the federal and parliamentary system.

“Sabi ko nga, if you can give me that document, I will urge you to call for an election the following day or the following week. Even if there is still two or three years left, I will go. Do not worry about it. I am not into that ambition,” Duterte said. —NB/JST, GMA News