By Lilian C. Mellejor
DAVAO CITY, Dec. 2 (PNA) — Mayor Rodrigo Duterte vowed to push a Federal Republic of the Philippines once the “red flag” is raised to start talks on amending the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
“I am watching for that…I will immediately push Federalism once they open the Constitution for amendment,” said Duterte, who led the signing of the Manifesto of Support on Federalizing Philippines during the whole-day multi-sectoral summit on “Mindanaons Forging Unity Toward a Federal System of Government” Monday, December 1.
Duterte, who opted for a Federal–Parliamentary form of government, was of the view that amendments to the Constitution cannot be limited to the economic provisions.
Once raised for amendment, he said, it will already open to changes in other provisions .
“Why limit to economic provisions?” he quipped. He said we cannot limit things we are supposed to change.
The mayor was also quick to debunked speculation his taking the lead for Federalism is his launching pad to run for president in 2016, saying, “I do not want to put any political color on this (Federal) agenda.”
“I would rather belong to the other side where we only advocate Federalism without going into politics,” he said, adding that he does not want people to misconstrue his active involvement in Federalizing Philippines.
He reiterated earlier statements that he is not interested in the presidency even as he said that the country needs a leader that is Federalism-oriented and understood by the Filipino people.
Some of the participants see him as the leader who can push Federalism. Some even wore the “Rody for President 2016”. Cars of some of the participants had the posters of “Rody for president”. When his name is being pushed as the leader who can strongly push Federalism was well-applauded. Yet Duterte refused to budge.
The Summit was attended by incumbent and former governors and mayors from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, religious leaders, the military, Muslim leaders including the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and representatives from a cross-section of the society.
Among the known leaders present were Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane, Bukidnon Governor Jose Zubiri, Reuben Canoy, former Transportation secretary Pantaleon Alvarez, Partylist Representative Silvestre Bello, Cebu City Mayor Tommy Osmena, former rebel leader Alexander Noble, former Armed Forces chief of staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Dante Jimenez, Maribojoc Mayor Jun Evasco, Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, retired general Eduardo del Rosario, Archbishop Fernando Capalla, Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani Jr., Davao del Sur Governor Claude Bautista, Monkayo Mayor Joselito Brillantes, Tandag City Mayor Baby Pimentel, Randolph Parcasio of the Moro National Liberation Front, representatives from the Sultanate of Sulu, former Cagayan de Oro mayor Dongcoy Emano, former Presidential advisers for Mindanao Jesus Dureza and Paul Dominguez.
The past months have seen Duterte strongly advocating for Federalism as a alternative option to the Bangsamoro autonomy even as he has thrown his support to the passage Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
Duterte dismissed assumptions that the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is the “last card” to solve the Moro insurgency in Mindanao. The mayor suggested taking Federal state for a peaceful Mindanao.
In events and conventions here and outside the city, Duterte found opportunity to briefly discuss Federalism, including in one of his encounters with Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Teresita Deles, the mayor even urged the secretary to also see Federalism as another option to a peaceful Mindanao.
He promised to push a Federal Philippines and not only for Mindanao.
“I will never argue with a dismembered Republic,” he emphasized.
According to him, everything will be done peacefully.
Duterte said there are many ways of Federalism. The government may copy verbatim the Malaysia set-up; the United States; or the Federated States of the Scandinavian countries.
He pointed out that it should be a Federal form that is suitable to the peculiarities of the Philippines and must be pursued peacefully.
Like others, Duterte expressed disappointment that for many decades Mindanao has not been getting a fair share of the revenues the island has contributed to the national coffers.
Worst, he said, no one in Manila could even take attention to the current problems of Mindanao because leaders are busy “cutting each other’s throat” referring to corruption accusations.
Archbishop Emeritus of Davao Msgr. Fernando Capalla, Esperon, Parcasio, UP Mindanao student leader John Villadolid, Prof. Moner Bajunaid of the National Ulama Conference, IP representative Berino Mamboo, former governor of IBP Mindanao Atty. Israelito Torreon, International School of Cagayan de Oro dean Rhona Canoy, and Osmeña were the panel of reactors.
All reactors threw their full support to Federalism as they share the common sentiments on unequal sharing of wealth, corruption, and peace and order. (PNA)