Duterte nixes idea of holding transition position in shift to federalism

President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he would rather cut short his term than lengthen it as he nixed the idea of leading a transition government should his bid for a federal system of government succeeds.

Speaking at the oath taking of 107 newly appointed officials in Malacañang, Duterte reiterated his plan to leave office by 2020 if there will be a “working federal setup” by that time.

“I do not want any transition position,” said Duterte, whose six-year term ends in June 2022.

“I do not have any plans of perpetuating myself in power. It ain’t in my system. And I have told the military time and again as good as any other time that if I overstay even for 24 hours here in Malacañang, you can arrest me and shoot me,” he added.

Duterte said it is the duty of the military and the public “to see to it that the rules of succession in our Constitution be followed.”

“I could not be more clear on this and I would rather abbreviate my term rather than extend it,” he said.

The President’s reaction came after Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said last month that a term extension for Duterte is possible during the transition period to a federal form of government.

Pimentel later clarified that the proposed shift to federalism was not designed for Duterte.

The Senate leader said that based on his timeline, a proposed federal charter could be ready for a plebiscite simultaneous with the May 2019 midterm elections. — RSJ, GMA News