PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte recalled on Monday, April 4, 2022, his call for constitutional amendments, saying the country’s current system makes it easy for government employees and public officials to become billionaires.
"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 in Mataas na kahoy, Batangas following the recent eruption of the Taal Volcano.
"Itong constitution na ito, madali maging bilyonaryo in public office kung ginusto niya. 'Yan ang totoo (With the current constitution, it is very easy to become a billionaire while in public office. That’s true)," he added.
He said the country’s constitution was patterned “word-for-word” from that of the United States and no longer suits the present situation in the Philippines
Duterte again took a swipe at the country’s partylist system, which he said is being abused by the elite in order to amass more money.
He said it no longer serves its purpose of being a mechanism that would benefit the marginalized sector.
"Lahat ng mga mayaman, buong Pilipinas, lahat ng mga milyonaryo, may partylist. Agawan sila ng partylist. Iyong ibang walang partylist, binibili nila... ‘Pag eleksyon, sila iyong may pera, sila iyong mananalo," he said.
(All the rich people in the whole country, the millionaires, have partylist. They’re all after the partylist. During elections, they have the ones who have money and they win.)
Talking about political dynasties, Duterte said he doubts that the Congress will pass a law prohibiting such.
Due to the absence of an enabling law, the anti-dynasty provision in the Constitution cannot be implemented.
Duterte said if there is another setup of structure in the Constitution, he will not let any of his relatives fill up a government post.
“You know, ako, ayaw ko man in the sense na if it were another setup or structure, mabuti man talaga ‘yang iba na naman. Dapat iba na (It’s better that you let other people run for office),” said Duterte.
"Pero kung if we dwell on the present structure crafted in the Constitution, eh wala talagang mangyari (nothing will happen). Walang enabling law na lulusot diyan sa Congress (There’s no enabling law that will pass Congress). Eh puro mag-asawa ‘yan, kundi ang anak, tapos party-list kanya pa (They’re all spouses, or the children are the ones in office, and they even hold the partylist)," he added.
Duterte said he will not endorse any candidate for the upcoming national polls except for his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who is running for vice president.
Duterte’s sons, Sebastian and Paolo, were the incumbent city vice mayor and first district representative, respectively. (SunStar Philippines)