BY ADRIAN STEWART CO and PRINCE GOLEZ
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte can join the presidential race again if the draft federal constitution is ratified.
Consultative Committee member Julio Teehankee said based on his interpretation of the draft, Duterte can seek reelection once the federal constitution is laid down.
If he wins, the President can stay in power for at least eight more yearsm, added Teehankee.
“There’s no ban, so incumbent officials like President Duterte can run under a new constitution. Because it’s like a reboot, it’s a reset,” Teehankee said in an interview with One News Channel.
He added that the proposed charter “rules out term extension for the current president and vice president but does not prohibit them from seeking reelection.”
Under the proposed federal constitution that the ConCom approved on Tuesday, the president and vice president will have a term of four years. It also allows them to serve a maximum of two terms.
Teehankee added that unlike the current setup, the president and the vice president will be elected in tandem under the proposed charter.
Duterte earlier said he will abandon his position should a new constitution takes effect.
“PRRD has repeatedly said, “Not a second beyond his term in 2022,’” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said on Friday. “He has said what he said, not a second longer.”/PN
