Former President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his support for his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in easing economic restrictions in the Constitution. Speaking at a rally in Cebu City, Duterte stated that he was “comfortable supporting” amendments to the Constitution as long as they did not propose term extensions for incumbent officials. He also mentioned that Marcos had not made any significant mistakes during his presidency so far.
Duterte emphasized that he would continue to back Marcos as long as he steps down at the end of his six-year term. He advised Marcos not to follow in the footsteps of his late father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who stayed in power for over two decades until he was overthrown during the EDSA Revolution in 1986. Duterte urged Marcos to “end his trip” and allow the Constitution to work.
It is worth noting that Duterte has consistently advocated for changes in the economic provisions of the Constitution to attract more investors to the country. His support for economic Charter change (Cha-cha) has been well-received by some members of the House of Representatives.
Isabela Representative Faustino “Inno” Dy 5th welcomed Duterte’s backing, describing it as a “welcome development.” House Deputy Speaker David “Jayjay” Suarez expressed his happiness with Duterte’s statements and expressed his desire for the same support from Duterte’s supporters. Suarez also highlighted that the House has been consistent in pushing for an economic Cha-cha.
On Monday, the House, acting as a committee of the whole, began deliberations on Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 7, which outlines the specific provisions that need to be amended. RBH 7 shares the same amendments as RBH 6, which was filed in the Senate earlier. Both resolutions focus on Article XII (Section 11), Article XIV (paragraph 2 of Section 4), and Article XVI (paragraph 2 of Section 11) of the Constitution.
The proposed amendments aim to add the words “unless otherwise provided by law” to the provisions and the word “basic” before the words “educational institutions” in the first sentence of paragraph 2, Section 4 of Article XIV. Notably, RBH 7 does not include the phrase “each House voting separately.”
In conclusion, former President Duterte’s support for economic changes in the Constitution, particularly in easing economic restrictions, has garnered attention and support from members of the House of Representatives. The ongoing deliberations on specific provisions reflect the commitment to attract more investors to the country and promote economic growth.
Source: The Manila Times
