Philippine President wants to rename the Philippines to “Republic of Maharlika”

President Rodrigo Duterte said he agrees with late President Ferdinand Marcos in wanting to rename the country.

Speaking at an event in Maguindanao Monday, Duterte told the crowd, “Tama si Marcos. Panahon ni Marcos, tama talaga si Marcos. Gusto niya palitan – Maharlika. The Republic of Maharlika, because maharlika is a Malay word and it means more of a concept of serenity and peace,” he said.

Malacañang on Tuesday noted the President was, as usual, just “floating with an idea.”

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, who personally agreed with the statement, said renaming the country may be a way to assert our national identity.

“Hindi ba ang style ng Presidente, he floats an idea? Idea lang ‘yung kanya,” Panelo said in his media briefing Tuesday.

“Magandang pakinggan ‘yung Maharlika. Sa Filipino language, Maharlika means ‘royalty.’

In 1978, then-Batasang Pambansa member Eddie Ilarde filed Parliamentary Bill 195 which sought to change the name of the country from “Philippines” to “Maharlika.”

The proposal was criticized, as the name was associated with Marcos, said the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).

However, Panelo argued the name “Maharlika” did not originally come from Marcos.

“Actually that’s not Mr. Marcos’ idea. I forgot the name of the person, but Mr. Marcos at the time welcomed that idea, pero it was not his original,” the spokesperson told reporters.

In his speech Monday, Duterte said there was little that could be done right now about the country’s name, but that could change in the future.

“Philippines because it was discovered by Magellan using the money of King Philip (II). Kaya pagdating ng u***, ginawang Philippines. Pero okay na ‘yan. Balang araw palitan natin,” he said.

Although it remains unclear whether the current administration will push for the name change, Panelo said officials are looking into the legalities.

“Baka you issue an executive order or pass a legislation renaming it– baka some constitutional experts might say, you cannot amend that, that’s in the constitution. Pinag-aaralan namin how this word Philippines evolved to be the country’s name,” he said.

This article originally appeared on: CNN Philippines