(Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte said that he is ready to step down in two or three years’ time if Congress would be able to lay the groundwork for a federal system of government.
As a matter of fact, he said, he is even ready to leave office anytime if the people truly would not want him to continue as President.
In his speech during the awarding ceremonies for the Ten Outstanding Young Men and Women in Malacanang on Monday, December 12, the President also expressed misgivings that he ran for President, saying that if he could go back in time he would not have done so.
“If I were to go back in time, I would not have committed the same mistake. Totoo yan,” President Duterte said recalling what he had earlier told Manny Pangilinan, chairman of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines(TOYM) Foundation, Incorporated.
“Kung ayaw na talaga ninyo, I am ready to step down. Walang problem sa akin ‘yan. I have no illusion about power and about the president,” Mr. Duterte said.
That is why he said he is urging Congress to act fast on the shift to a federal form of government so that he could at least leave this as his legacy, to address the grumblings south of the country.
“In Mindanao, there is no solution, believe me and remember me for all time, because I’m telling you the truth,” he said.
“Nothing short of a federal setup will appease the Moros of Mindanao. Otherwise we will continue to fight until kingdom come, pass it on to the next generation, and a lot of killings will decimate the population from so many millions to a few thousands,” he said.
He stressed that Congress can decide to call for a Constituent Assembly next year. He added that Congress can also decide for him to create a commission to introduce amendments to be adopted by Congress or by the Constitutional Convention. But he warned that this second option is much more expensive and lengthy.
“(This) would really be expensive at matapos yun (and it could be finished) four years after, just like our experience the last time,” the President said referring to what happened during the Corazon Aquino administration.
“If you can craft- and we can call a commission for that next year – but if you can craft and put into place the federal system, you have my word, I am going to step down, alis na ako,” the President said.
Under this system, he said a strong President is needed, but he immediately added that he is not interested to be placed in that post, he said.
“Ako I am not interested. If they can do it in two years, two years-and-a-half, I am out, because then I would not be eligible for any election, and of course rightly so, because delicadeza yan. . Aalis na ako,” Mr. Duterte said.
He explained that the President in this set-up should have limited powers, which essentially is only the power to dissolve parliament, to call for new elections, and the power of being the commander in chief of the Armed Forces, including the police and the CAFGUs (Citizens’ Armed Forces Geographical Units).
