MANILA: POLITICS – Duterte eyes doing a Marcos — opposition

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte wants to do a Ferdinand Marcos by prolonging his stay in power through a new Constitution despite contrary assertions of Palace officials, opposition congressmen said yesterday.

But administration ally Rep. Winston Castelo of Quezon City said term extension and a no-el (no elections) scenario in 2019 “are side issues that should not divert the nation from the greater objective of changing the system of government for better governance and full national development.”

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III also clarified that President Duterte’s powers would be reduced and his term may not necessarily be extended if and when the Constitution is amended to implement a shift to a federal system of government.

Pimentel, who is president of PDP-Laban, issued the statement to counter what he said were  “alarmist” statements on the administration’s push for federalism.

“Under a federal form of government, you are creating other centers of government. In the present unitary set up, all power is with the president, so that’s why I admire the President, he’s willing to let go of some of his power,” he said.

“Since 1982, federalism was being pushed by PDP-Laban and Duterte was not yet around,” Pimentel said.

Rep. Gary Alejano of Magdalo said recent developments are similar to what Marcos did when he had a new Constitution that extended his term of office.

“We would see a repeat of Marcos, as we are seeing many similarities already. Duterte is certainly reading Marcos’ playbook,” he said.

He said the President would prolong his stay in office through the transitory provisions of a federal Charter.

He pointed out that one version Duterte’s congressmen-allies are considering would give him legislative powers during the transition to the envisioned federal system.

“However, the transition period could last for years as what Marcos did in the 1973 Constitution’s transitory provisions,” he added.

Alejano’s opposition colleague Tom Villarin of Akbayan said the Charter change plan of administration allies “hews closely to how the dictator Marcos tinkered with our Constitution to pave the way for a constitutional authoritarian order.”

“After declaring martial law, Marcos had a plebiscite where people were asked to support his new Constitution by ‘mere raising of hands.’ What followed was the darkest years in our history,” he said.

In asking lawmakers and the people not to be distracted by side issues, Castelo said term extension and no-el are “mere possibilities during the transition period that may or may not be necessary.”

“These are but options that Congress may consider for a smooth transition, but they are not a prerequisite since the shift can still be accomplished during the last three years of the Duterte administration without need for term extension or the postponement of the midterm elections,” he said.

He said elections could push through next year as scheduled and those elected could serve as “transition officials” toward the full installation of the envisioned federal system in 2022.

He added that President Duterte could preside over the successful implementation of the planned new federal Charter during his last three years in office.

Castelo pointed out that if this scenario happens, there would be no need for term extension for the President and incumbent lawmakers, and for no-el.

“The President promised real change, and that change is anchored on federalism as the system that can propel the country to realize its full political and economic potential. Ultimately, Filipinos will decide in a plebiscite whether or not that change will take place,” he stressed.

Leni Robredo to benefit

Meanwhile, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said a possible term extension for President Duterte under the proposed federal form of government would also benefit Vice President Leni Robredo.

”Any extension of the present term of office of President Duterte and the lawmakers will also benefit Vice President Robredo as her term will likewise be extended,” Macalintal said.

Macalintal, who also serves as lead counsel for Robredo in her counter electoral protest against former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., clarified that he made the comment as an election lawyer and not as Robredo’s counsel.

Mind conditioning

For Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the administration is conditioning the mind of the public to accept the extension of the terms of President Duterte and other elected officials as well as the absolution of the Marcoses from their misdeeds.

She said the Duterte administration is trying to measure the sentiment of the public and even influence it.

“It comes as no surprise that the public is being bombarded with all these political prospects and scenarios coming from the key leaders of the executive and legislative branches of the government. After all, these twin political projects will determine the fate of the Duterte government,” Hontiveros said.

“The Marcos compromise deal will fortify its political alliance and federalism will extend the term limits of power-hungry public officials. The public must not be hoodwinked,” she added.

Hontiveros said the campaign is also getting a boost from the so-called social media influencers of the administration who, she said, have been dishing out fake news to serve the administration’s interest.

“It is a classic feature of an authoritarian regime. The government is keen on controlling public opinion, knowing that it is ultimately the basis of its power and legitimacy,” Hontiveros pointed out.

She recalled that the administration had also raised the issue of Duterte’s threatening to set up a revolutionary government, apparently to check the sentiment of the public and the military on the issue.

“Fortunately, the proposal was shelved in the meantime because it failed to shore up support from the public and sway the military,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros warned the people against being swayed by the government’s attempt to condition them into accepting political schemes that could solidify authoritarian rule in the country.

Imminent dictatorship

Some Catholic prelates like Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes have expressed concerns over a prolonged stay in power of Duterte and other officials.

“Extension of the term of any elected official must never be allowed. This is a great violation of the Constitution of our Republic. Indeed the shortening of the term of office may be allowed. Extension of the term smacks of an imminent dictatorship, which happened during the presidency of Marcos,” Bastes said.

A no-elections scenario is something the public should also be worried about.

“Another danger is the proclamation of a no-el scenario, which is a blatant violation of a democratic form of government. No-el is another specter of a looming dictatorial government. Hence, we citizens should be vigilant to avoid political pitfalls,” he added.

Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People said  there are more important issues that officials should discuss, and scrapping the mid-term or the 2022 national elections should not be one of them.

“There are so many urgent needs and pressing problems of the country which should be immediately addressed and attend to. Let us not focus on politics and not to precondition the minds of our people to no-el. Constitutional changes should not be used as excuse for one’s personal agenda or to be tailored to one’s political party’s interest,” Santos added.

CBCP president Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles said that while Church leaders were keeping their communication lines with Duterte open, they would always stand on the side of God’s teachings.

Valles told CBCPNews, the official news service provider of the CBCP, that he is committed to engaging the Duterte administration through open dialogue. – Marvin Sy, Helen Flores, Evelyn Macairan, Paolo Romero, Emmanuel Tupas