Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11) — President Rodrigo Duterte said he agreed with former President Ferdinand Marcos 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.

[Translation: Marcos was right. During Marcos' time, he was right. He wanted to change it to Maharlika. The Republic of Maharlika, because maharlika is a Malay word and it means more of a concept of serenity and peace.]

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).

In his speech, 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.

[Translation: Philippines because it was discovered by Magellan using the money of King Philip (II). So when the b*****d arrived, it was named Philippines. But that's okay. We'll change it one of these days.]

In 2017, Magdalo Party-list Representative Gary Alejano filed House Bill 5867 or "An Act Constituting a Geographic Renaming Commission to Rename Our Country."

Alejano said, "If we want to be truly independent, then we should throw away the bonds of colonialism by establishing our own national identity."

The bill called for the creation of a commission to look into renaming the Philippines.