PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, July 8, said he has told incoming leaders of the House of Representatives that the 1987 Constitution should be revised "now".
"We have to change the Constitution, whether federal or whatnot. Sabi ko doon sa tatlo, kinausap ko (I told the three. I talked to them about it)," the President recalled telling Representatives Alan Peter Cayetano (Taguig City), Lord Allan Velasco, and Martin Romualdez (Leyte).
Duterte emphasized the need to change the Constitution as he noted that the military is getting piqued by the rampant corruption in government.
"Sabi ko (I said), 'If you want to change the Constitution, do it now. Nandiyan pa ako.' (Do it while I am still here)," he said.
"And I can tell the military, 'No, no, no, you better...' Kasi ang military mainit na. And I've told you all the corruption sa gobyerno ang pinakamalaki andiyan sa itaas (The military is not pleased. And I've told you, corruption in government is worst in the higher ranks)," Duterte added.
In the same speech, Duterte also endorsed a term-sharing arrangement between Cayetano and Velasco as House Speaker. He also endorsed Romualdez as Majority Floor Leader.
Article 17, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution states that "any amendment to, or revision of, this Constitution may be proposed by (1) The Congress, upon a vote of three-fourths of all its Members."
The Chief Executive earlier admitted that federalism may no longer push through under his administration. Duterte has three more years to go before his term ends in 2022.
Duterte has been pushing for a shift to a federal form of government in a bid to spur development in the countryside.
In January, MalacaƱang said Duterte is not yet giving up on his proposed federal state even after the Chief Executive hinted that he might just seek revisions to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution. (SunStar Philippines)