MANILA - President-elect Rodrigo Duterte sought the help of Congressional leaders to prioritize the reinstatement of the death penalty law during a meeting in Davao City on Wednesday, Quezon Representative Danilo Suarez revealed Thursday.

Suarez said Duterte asked him, Ilocos Norte Rep. Rudy Fariñas and incumbent House Speaker Sonny Belmonte to support the next House Speaker, Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez, in pushing for bills that the President-elect will certify as urgent.

“He pointed to Rudy Fariñas, to me, and Speaker Belmonte na tulungan si Bebot na i-prioritize yung kanyang, I will call it certified bill. And he mentioned number one, death penalty,” Suarez told radio dzMM.

He said Camarines Sur Rolando Andaya, Jr. proposed to allocate funds for the rehabilitation of the lethal injection room when Congress deliberates on national budget. Suarez also suggested to make provisions for death by firing squad.

Duterte, however, said he prefers executions by hanging.

“Parang mas gusto niya yung nagkakakawag pa. Sabi niya, palagay ko naman kung magbibitay tayo ng mga 50 kada buwan o linggo-linggo, parang ganoon, madala na iyang mga ‘yan,” Suarez observed.

READ: Duterte vows hangings in war on crime

Duterte has also secured a 200-strong "super majority" in the House of Representatives, putting him in strong position to push for his agenda.

FEDERAL SHIFT VIA CON-CON

The President-elect is also pushing for a shift to a federal system of government through a constitutional convention (con-con) composed of elected delegates, rather than a constituent assembly (con-ass), which will be composed of incumbent lawmakers.

“He said mabuti na iyan kaysa con-ass kasi ang con-ass baka mapagbintangan tayo na we’re favoring ourselves. Con-con na lang,” Suarez said.

Under the constitutional convention, Suarez said the shift could be completed within two years. He added that a referendum may be held during the mid-term elections in 2019.

Suarez, who is positioning himself as the leader of a "constructive minority," earlier said said Duterte told congressmen that he wanted a constitutional convention formed "as soon as possible."

Duterte is eyeing a federal government by 2020, his fourth year in office, Suarez said.

"He said that without federalism, you cannot contain the problems in Mindanao, and that's the only solution," the congressman said.