HOUSE leaders on Wednesday rebuffed former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s persistent claim that the ongoing push to amend the 1987 Constitution is geared towards term extension.

House Committee on Muslim Affairs Chairman Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo (Lanao del Sur, 1st District) and Assistant Majority Leader Francisco Paolo Ortega (La Union, 1st District) insisted that the focus is solely on amending the restrictive economic provisions in the 37-year-old Charter.

“It’s very clear, it’s in black and white that we’re only dealing specifically with the economic provisions,” Dimaporo said during the regular daily press conference at the House of Representatives.

Dimaporo was referring to two identical resolutions being discussed in both the House and the Senate, focusing on amending particular economic constitutional provisions related to public utilities, education, and advertising.

Dimaporo said perhaps Duterte, who he acknowledged is deeply respected and well-loved in Mindanao, might not be fully aware of the ongoing economic amendments discussions in Congress.

“Maybe he (Duterte) hasn’t been clarified on what’s happening here in Congress,” Dimaporo said.

In line with Dimaporo’s views, Ortega stressed that the discussions surrounding constitutional amendments have been solely centered on economic matters.

“It’s purely economic Cha-cha,” Ortega pointed out. “Even if you watch the debates in the Senate, the House, wala naman pong pinag-uusapan tungkol sa politika.”

He added that during the debates, there was only discussion about economic changes, with no talk of politics or term extensions.

“We have never discussed a single thing about anything na political, extension of terms. Anything political, wala pong napag-usapan,” he said.

Duterte has consistently asserted that the primary aim of the Charter change efforts is to extend the term of incumbent elective officials, particularly President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.

This assertion was reiterated during a recent “prayer rally” in support of embattled religious leader Apollo Quiboloy in Manila, which subsequently evolved into an anti-government demonstration.

In Wednesday’s press conference in the House, Aklan 2nd District Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr. expressed concern over the political repercussions of Duterte’s actions, warning they could have serious economic consequences for the country.

“The political ripple that he (Duterte) created may burn the house down,” Haresco warned.

He highlighted the recent foreign trip of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, who brought US$1.7 billion in potential investments.

However, Haresco warned that due to perceived political instability, these investments may now be at risk, leading to a potential suspension of foreign direct investments (FDIs) into the Philippines.

“There will be some suspended animation from all these targeted [FDIs] into our country with that move of our honored former President Digong,” he said.