MANILA - Opposition senatorial slate ‘Otso Diretso’ vowed Wednesday to block “any attempt to change” the current constitution, a month after President Rodrigo Duterte said he could settle for charter amendments instead of fully shifting to federalism.

• Duterte hints at shift in approach to charter change

The bloc is composed of Senator Bam Aquino, former senator Mar Roxas, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano and former House member Erin Tañada, lawyers Chel Diokno, Pilo Hilbay, and Romulo Macalintal, as well as Muslim assemblywoman Samira Gutoc.

“Lalabanan namin ang anumang tangka na baguhin ang 1987 Constitution sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang administrasyon,” a manifesto set to be signed by the “Otso Diretso” candidates read.

(We would oppose any attempt to change the 1987 Constitution under the current administration.)

The document did not specifically say why opposition candidates were against amendments in the charter, but alleged that the Duterte administration was keen on finding ways to “stay in power.”

“Imbis na iangat ang buhay ng mga Pilipino, pagpapalit ng Konstitusyon at pananatili sa kapangyarihan ang tinutukan,” it read.

(Instead of uplifting the lives of Filipinos, changing the Constitution and staying in power was prioritized.)

Shifting to federalism was among Duterte’s campaign promises in the 2016 presidential elections.

Last year, the President formed an executive commission composed of constitutionalists and legal luminaries to produce a draft federal charter. The panel’s output was ignored by the House of Representatives after the chamber decided to create its own federal draft that diluted anti-dynasty provisions, among others.

The “Otso Diretso” slate also vowed to block a measure that would lower the age of criminal liability, another Duterte advocacy.

“[Kami ay] magsusulong ng mga batas na kikilalanin ang karapatan ng kabataan, magpapaigting ng kanilang boses,” the group’s manifesto read.

(We would push for laws that would recognize the rights of children, that would give the youth a stronger voice.)