Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned legislators against using constitutional amendments for their selfish motives or he will dissolve the Congress, reported The Manila Times Online on Thursday.
“You choose. You do it properly. Don’t fool the people. If you insist on it, I will close you down,” Duterte said during a gathering of members of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting on Wednesday at the Malacanang palace.
However, House of Representatives majority leader Rodolfo Farinas of Ilocos Norte said he was in favour of lifting of term limits, a constitutional safeguard against monopoly of powers.
He noted that the term of limits in the charter are problematic. “There are term limits, but the constitution prohibits political dynasty. But the root of political dynasty is the term limits.
“When you are not eligible for re-election anymore, people will clamour for someone related to you for the continuity of service, so you will field your wife, or son or daughter,” Farinas told the media.
He claimed Duterte was not in favour of lifting term limits, noting that the president even offered to step down early if a new charter is adopted by 2019 and presidential elections are called.
The president now favours the convening of a Constituent Assembly wherein lawmakers deliberate on charter amendments.