Duterte: Constitution makes it easy for execs to become billionaires, needs changes

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called for constitutional amendments, indicating that the 1987 Constitution made it easy for corrupt officials to become billionaires while in public office.

"Sa totoo lang, kailangan natin baguhin. If there is an opportunity for Congress, try to have it done whether by constituent assembly or constitutional convention," Duterte said in his speech during the inspection of an evacuation center for Taal Volcano eruption victims in Mataasnakahoy, Batangas.

"Itong constitution na ito, madali maging bilyonaryo in public office kung ginusto niya. 'Yan ang totoo," he added.

(This constitution need to be changed... With this constitution, public officials can easily be billionaires. That's the truth.)

Duterte again criticized the party-list system in the House of Representatives, saying millionaires have either formed their own party-list groups or bought existing ones.

“The Constitution is not really a perfect one. I would not say it’s the worst Constitution but we have copied that from America word-for-word halos when we established the republic in 1987... ang problem maraming dinagdag at isa itong party-list,” 

(The Constitution is not really a perfect one. I would not say it’s the worst Constitution but we have copied that from America word-for-word halos when we established the republic in 1987... the problem is a lot of things were added and one of them is the party-list.)

“Ang lumabas ngayon ito na. Maski sino na lang. Lahat ng mga mayaman…. lahat ng mga milyonaryo may party-list. Agawan sila ng party-list..  yung iba walang party-list binibili nila,” he said.

(Now it's a free for all system. The rich, the millionaires have party-list, they buy the party-list.)

Party-list system no longer for marginalized

Duterte said party-list representatives from wealthy and political clans have drowned out the voices of the poor and marginalized, which were supposed to be represented in the party-list system.

"Nakita ko iyong party-list ngayon, mga asawa, mga anak...isang member of Congress, meron rin siyang party-list. Andun ang asawa niya, probably iyong anak niya after this election," Duterte said.

"Naagaw iyong...what was we conceived to be a mechanism for the lowly Filipinos na andiyan sa daan..for their voices to be heard in the halls on Congress...wala eh," he added.

(Party-list representatives have their spouses, probably their children there . The voice of the lowly Filipinos has been tuned out].

"Wala itong pobre," Duterte said.

(The marginalized are not represented anymore.)

The 1987 Constitution provides that the House of Representatives should be composed of members which include, on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio, and those who, as provided by law, should be elected through a party-list system of registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations.

The 1998 Party-list law, on the other hand, defines the party-list system as a "mechanism of proportional representation in the election of representatives to the House of Representatives from national, regional and sectoral parties or organizations or coalitions thereof registered with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)."

Duterte said that while the party-list law had good intentions, those never came to fruition.

Political dynasties

In a report on "24 Oras," Duterte said there would be no total prohibition of political dynasties unless the 1987 Constitution is amended.

“Ako ayaw ko naman. In the sense na if there’s another setup of structure in the constitution, mabuti talagang iba naman. Dapat iba na,” the President said.

“Pero if we dwell on the present structure crafted in the constitution, eh wala talagang mangyayari,” he added.

Duterte earlier pointed out that political dynasties are not bad and will stay unless the culture is changed.

Meanwhile, Duterte reiterated that he would not be endorsing any presidential candidate in the May 9 elections except for her daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte who is running as vice president.

“Ako, paalis na ako. I am not supporting any candidate except, of course, my daughter. Ako, boboto talaga ako sa anak ko,” he said.

On March 22, the Cusi-led faction of PDP-Laban chaired by Duterte formally gave its support to the candidacy of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.—With Mel Matthew Doctor/Sundy Mae Locus/NB/LDF, GMA News