Duterte to oppose ‘anti-people’ draft federal charter — PalaceBy The Manila TimesPRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will oppose a draft federal charter that will go against the interests of the people, Malacanang said on Friday, after the House of Representatives approved its version, incurring the ire of a consultative committee that Malacanang created to review the 1987 Constitution. The House passed its draft on third and final reading this week. In a press briefing, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said that the President told a Cabinet meeting that the charter change should benefit the people and not the interests of its crafters. Should Congress introduce amendments to the Constitution when they meet as a Constituent Assembly and it is against the interest of the people, he will campaign against the ratification of that proposed draft of the constitution,” Panelo said. The spokesman said the lawmakers should heed the words of the members of the constitutional commission and open themselves to amendments.

Source: Manila Times December 14, 2018 09:11 UTC