Duterte threatens Pres. Marcos with ouster due to Charter change push, blasts House solons

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29) — The rift between the Marcos and Duterte families continues to intensify as former President Rodrigo Duterte castigated the aggressive moves to amend the 1987 Constitution, which he believes are coming largely from First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

During a prayer rally in Davao City on Sunday, he slammed the moves to push for Charter change through the People's Initiative. He said lawmakers have the power to write and amend laws and they don't need to resort to changing the Constitution, which he believes remains sound.

The House of Representatives, led by Speaker Romualdez, has been accused of bribing Filipinos to signify that they want the Senate and House to vote jointly for Charter change.

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"You committed fraud, sinayang niyo pera namin [You wasted our money]. People's Initiative does not involve buying the vote or signature of the Filipino. Mga walang prinsipyo [You don't have principles]," he said.

The former chief executive dared active soldiers to arrest the lawmakers for the alleged misuse of public funds, even saying he will order their arrest should he be elected once again.

"Arestuhin ninyo kasi nagsasayang ng pera — fraud swindling ginawa nila. You must account for the wasted money, for the money that you bought the signatures of Filipinos — bribery. Magdasal kayo," he added.

[Translation: Arrest them because they are wasting money. That is fraud and swindling. You must account for the wasted money, for the money that you bought the signatures of Filipinos — bribery. You should start praying.]

Several senators have insinuated that Romualdez is behind the People’s Initiative for Charter change, but this has been denied by the Speaker.

Duterte, during the event attended by his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte and presidential sister Sen. Imee Marcos, said First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and House Speaker Romualdez are behind the Charter change talks in the hopes of moving to a parliamentary form of government.

"Parliament ang ambisyon niyan. Karamihan galing kay Liza Marcos pati kay Romualdez," he said. "Mabuti sana kung bright kayo. Eh kung drug addict ka lang naman (Marcos) at may asawa kang hungry for power. Tapos may isa itong taga-Leyte gusto siyang maging prime minister — yan ang plano nila"

[Translation: The ambition for a parliamentary government mostly came from Liza Marcos and Romualdez. As if you're bright enough. The president is a drug addict and his wife is hungry for power. The one from Leyte wants to be prime minister. That is their plan.]

Threats, allegations vs. Marcos

Duterte urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to put a stop to the Cha-cha moves, even threatening the chief executive that he will suffer the same fate as his father, ousted dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, if he continues to support it.

"Ako nagmamakaawa kasi it will divide the nation at madugo ang panahong ito," he said. "Sabi ko sayo Mr. President kaibigan kita. Kapag pinilit mo ito, lalabas ka ng Malacañan kagaya nong panahon na pinalayas kayo... Baka susunod ka sa dinaanan ng tatay mo. Diyan ako takot, ayaw ko mangyari sayo yan."

[Translation: I am begging you because it will divide the nation. We are friends, but if you force this, you will be exiting Malacañan like the time you were kicked out. You might have the same fate as your father. I don't want that.]

Alleged drug use refuted

Duterte also claimed that Marcos was part of the drug users in the list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) when the former served as mayor of Davao City, but this was quickly refuted by the agency.

"The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) categorically states that President Ferdinand R Marcos, Jr. is not in its watch list, contrary to the statement of former President Rodrigo Duterte, claiming that "when he was the Mayor of Davao," it said in a statement on Monday.

Referring to the President's alleged drug use, Duterte also talked briefly about the ongoing investigation of the International Criminal Court into the extrajudicial killings committed during his administration.

"Mabuti na lang wala na ako sa pwesto, baka kasali ka pa," he said.

[Translation: You're lucky I am no longer in power or else you might be part of that list.]