Outgoing President Duterte on Thursday recommended the abolition of the party-list system in the country and advised his successor to call for changes in the Constitution.
Duterte made the appeal as he repeated his allegations that some party-list groups are infiltrated by the communists and that "what they really want is to destroy government."
"That was the mantra of the communist 53 years ago, and it’s still the mantra of the communist rebels pati na ‘yung nandiyan sa — ‘yang mga left na ‘yan (even those in the Left)," he said in his taped public address.
To do such, there is a need to change the Constitution.
Duterte said the next president, who is now presumed to be Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., to convert the Congress into a constituent assembly or call for a constitutional convention.
"So ako, magastos man 'yang (For me, it might be expensive, the) Constitutional Convention. I would rather say that we elected them so we must have the trust in them, 'pag nandoon sila na ang ano eh, ngayon na para walang mapulitika (The next administration must do that now to avoid politicking)," he said.
"There is really a demand of the moment ‘yung (the) changes ng (in the) Constitution, whether you want to convert it into a federal or... Ngayon na, umpisahan na kaagad (Start it now)," he added.
Duterte said the next administration must do that early to prevent people from making claims that charter change initiatives seek only to extend the sitting president's term, just like what happened to him.
"Kasi pagka ginawa mo 'yan 'yung patapos ka na, sabihin nila (Because if you do that once your term is about to end, they will say) you want to change some provisions in the Constitution to allow you to run, ganoon. Parang ginawa sa akin na itong si Duterte gusto kasi gustong another term. Susmaryosep, inyo na lang ‘yan (That's like what they did to, when they said Duterte just wanted another term. My God! I'm giving it to you)," he said.