Ex-president Duterte hits Cha-cha, tells Marcos: ‘Be content’ with 6-year term

Former president Rodrigo Duterte spoke at a gathering in Tagum City, Davao del Norte on Sunday evening, during which he criticized his successor's administration and efforts in some quarters to enact Charter change.

At the event, billed as the "Defend the Flag Peace Rally," Duterte lambasted Cha-cha efforts and connected them to alleged efforts to extend term limits.

Reading the section in the Constitution pertaining to the president and vice president's term limits, Duterte went on to say in Bisaya, "[H]indi kaaya-aya na ang isang tao, ang isang administrasyon, gagawa ng paraan ulit para ulitin, tanggalin ang anim na taon at gustong dagdagan kasi dito one term, six years only. Kaya gumawa sila ng bagong constitution, yun ang tinawag na Cha-cha, constitutional change," he said.

Later in the speech, he addressed President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., repeating past remarks that his successor should remember what happened to his father. "Mr. President, be happy and finish your term for six years. Makontento ka na diyan at binigyan ka ng panahon ng Panginoong Diyos na makapagsilbi sa ating bayan as president, despite or in spite of the fact ng history ninyo pagbaba ng tatay mo, hindi maganda, and yet ang Pilipino binigyan kayo ng pag-intindi. Pinatawad kayo."

He continued in Bisaya, "Yun lang sa akin, makontento ka na, happy ka na, huwag mo nang ambisiyonin, masisira ang pagkakaibigan, tayong magkaibigan, magkontra, aalis sa kampanya, sa katagalan, iba na ang sinasabi ko kasi sabi ko mahilig akong magmura, baka matamaan ka sadyain ko man o hindi, masisira ang pagkakaibigan natin and you will just destroy the country."

GMA News Online is trying to reach the Palace for comment.

But Marcos has stated that any changes to the Constitution would only affect economic provisions. “I want to make it clear. This Administration’s position in introducing reforms to our Constitution extends to economic matters alone, or those strategically aimed at boosting our country’s economy. Nothing more,” he said in February.

Duterte elaborated on the Marcos family's history, with one person in the audience yelling, "Kudeta!" (coup d'etat) repeatedly.

"Panahon lang ni Marcos dati at panahon lang ni Marcos ngayon, na kanilang gustong kalkalin ang Constitution. Ito lang na Marcos na malayo ng ilang taon na gustong, ang isa ayaw din bumaba, ang isa naman, gumagawa ng paraan ngayon na ayaw din bumaba, kaya dati nung naabutan ng revolt ng military, sinakyan ng Pilipino, kaya nangyari ang EDSA," Duterte said in Bisaya.

"Ewan ko, sinabihan ko siya, Mr. President, I hope that you’ll be able to recall what happened to your father. See to it, baka sumunod ka sa ama mo pag pinilit mo ito," he continued.

"Huwag kayong pumayag niyan, kasi bakit, bagay ba si Marcos na magtagal? bagay ba na si Marcos na bigyan pa natin ng termino? Ano ba ang abilidad niya?" he added, still in Bisaya.

More speakers

The rally also featured Duterte allies, including his former spokesperson Harry Roque, the former president's son Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte, Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez, and Marcos's former campaign spokesperson and Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez.

Also speaking at the event was the province's governor Edwin Jubahib, who has been suspended by the Office of the President over administrative complaints. 

The speakers touched on other familiar themes, with Mayor Duterte calling the West Philippine Sea issue "propaganda" and saying that the conflict is between the US and China. "It’s not about you being pro American or you about being pro China, hindi natin gusto na sumali sa away na hindi tayo kasama," he said in English and Bisaya.

Alvarez, meanwhile, said he was frightened by the prospect of war in the West Philippine Sea. "Bakit tayo manghahamon ng giyera sa China?" he said in Bisaya, in remarks translated by RTV One Mindanao. "Yung coast guard natin, yung military natin...kaya ngayon nanawagan ako, nakikiusap ako sa mga kapatid nating military, nasa mga pamamahay man kayo ngayon. Nakikiusap ako, kahit limang minuto lang. Isipin ninyo ang inyong mga anak na naglalaro, isipin ninyo ang inyong mga asawa. Kung magkakagiyera, magkakagulo, kayo ang nasa harap, isipin ninyo, kung mamamatay kayo, ano ang kinabukasan ng inyong mga anak, ano ang kinabukasan ng inyong pamilya. Nakakaawa. Hindi kaya ng gobyerno na suportahan ang inyong mga anak. Hindi kaya ng gobyerno na suportahan ang inyong pamilya. Kaya magsama-sama tayo, basahin ninyo ang saligang batas," he said in Bisaya.

Rodriguez, meanwhile, also alleged attempts to extend term limits through Cha-cha. "Sila po ay nahalal sa terminong anim na taon. Makontento na ho kayo sa anim na taon at huwag ninyong pagtangakang lapastangin ang ating saligang batas," said the former Marcos spokesperson, who left the administration in October 2022. — BM, GMA Integrated News