Palace: Duterte open to leading transition to federalism within his term

President Rodrigo Duterte is open to leading the country's orderly transition to a federal system of government, Malacañang said on Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement after the chief executive said last week that he may step down as early as next year once the new constitution is in place.

"He [Duterte] is willing to serve in the transition capacity in that scenario, provided it is only until 2022," Roque told reporters, adding it also depends on whether or not the people will ratify the transitory provisions of the proposed charter.

Critics of Charter change under the Duterte administration have accused him of encouraging amendments to maintain his hold on power, an allegation Malacañang has repeatedly denied, saying that the President has no desire to extend his six-year term that ends in June 2022.

Duterte, however, would lead a "very powerful" Federal Transition Commission based on the draft charter crafted by the Consultative Committee to be submitted to Duterte later Monday.

The commission is mandated to come up with a transition plan.

It also has the power to overhaul the executive, the legislative and the judiciary branches of government, according to a member of the body who requested anonymity when interviewed by GMA News.

This will take place if the draft is approved by Congress, acting as a constituent assembly, and ratified by the Filipino people in a plebiscite.

Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, head of the consultative committee, has said the plebiscite should take place in the middle of 2019.

If this happens, the transition commission will have three years to complete its tasks before the first national, regional and local elections under the new constitution is held on the second Monday of May 2022. — BM, GMA News