Duterte pushes for federalism with help from Nur
Published Dec 15, 2019 12:00 am
By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
President Duterte's push for a shift to a federal form of government continues as he sought the help of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chair Nur Misuari in convincing Congress to act on it.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte gives a warm welcome to Moro National Liberation Front Founding Chairman Nur Misuari prior to the start of their meeting at the Malacañan Palace on July 9, 2019. (KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN/ FILE PHOTO)
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said Duterte and Misuari vowed to work together to change the current structure of government into federal.
"Help me also convince the Moro members of Congress to work on it fast vis-à-vis the effort on the federal set up," Duterte asked Misuari.
"Our allies in Congress have assured me that they will work on it because that is part of my program. In the campaign, I said drugs, corruption, and federal system. I have to comply," he added.
President Duterte has been pushing for a federal form of government, believing this would trigger countryside development. In July last year, Duterte received the draft federal constitution crafted by the 22 members of the Consultative Committee. The Committee referred to the draft constitution as the "Bayanihan Federalism" which kept in mind the welfare of the people as the supreme law.
Duterte, however, left out the proposed shift to federalism in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) this year. Later on, he suggested that he might just opt to have economic provisions amended in the current Constitution.
"If you do not want federalism, fine. But change the Constitution that would really change this nation," he said early this year.
The President said that he was leaving the shift to a federal form of government to his successor.
“Federalism is good but there are certain things that need to be very clear. It devolves a lot to the local government. It’s something that the President, not I… I suppose it could come after me,” Duterte told reporters in July.
"I’m out of it because I think it will pass beyond my time," he added.
However, early this week, the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments voted to approve four proposals to amend the Constitution in an executive session.
The amendments approved were: empowering Congress to relax the limits to foreign investments in the country by mere legislation; tandem voting for the president and vice-president; five-year terms for senators, congressmen, and local executives with a maximum of three consecutive terms; and the election of senators by region with three senators per region and the country divided into nine regions.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said that it was up to Congress if it would move to change the Constitution.
"Hindi natin alam 'yon. Depende 'yan sa mga miyembro ng Kongreso. Hindi nangingialam ang Presidente diyan (We do not know that. That depends on Congress. The President does not interfere on their affairs)," he said.
Panelo said the Palace would leave it to Congress for now but it would be the public which will decide on it.
"Sa ngayon siguro papabayaan na lang muna natin ang mga nasa loob ng Kongreso dahil sila ang mag-aaral niyan (We'll leave them be for now because Congress will be the one working on it)," he said.
"'Yang mga panukalang Saligang Batas (Proposals to amend the Constitution), ultimately the people will decide on that," he added.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte gives a warm welcome to Moro National Liberation Front Founding Chairman Nur Misuari prior to the start of their meeting at the Malacañan Palace on July 9, 2019. (KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN/ FILE PHOTO)
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said Duterte and Misuari vowed to work together to change the current structure of government into federal.
"Help me also convince the Moro members of Congress to work on it fast vis-à-vis the effort on the federal set up," Duterte asked Misuari.
"Our allies in Congress have assured me that they will work on it because that is part of my program. In the campaign, I said drugs, corruption, and federal system. I have to comply," he added.
President Duterte has been pushing for a federal form of government, believing this would trigger countryside development. In July last year, Duterte received the draft federal constitution crafted by the 22 members of the Consultative Committee. The Committee referred to the draft constitution as the "Bayanihan Federalism" which kept in mind the welfare of the people as the supreme law.
Duterte, however, left out the proposed shift to federalism in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) this year. Later on, he suggested that he might just opt to have economic provisions amended in the current Constitution.
"If you do not want federalism, fine. But change the Constitution that would really change this nation," he said early this year.
The President said that he was leaving the shift to a federal form of government to his successor.
“Federalism is good but there are certain things that need to be very clear. It devolves a lot to the local government. It’s something that the President, not I… I suppose it could come after me,” Duterte told reporters in July.
"I’m out of it because I think it will pass beyond my time," he added.
However, early this week, the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments voted to approve four proposals to amend the Constitution in an executive session.
The amendments approved were: empowering Congress to relax the limits to foreign investments in the country by mere legislation; tandem voting for the president and vice-president; five-year terms for senators, congressmen, and local executives with a maximum of three consecutive terms; and the election of senators by region with three senators per region and the country divided into nine regions.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said that it was up to Congress if it would move to change the Constitution.
"Hindi natin alam 'yon. Depende 'yan sa mga miyembro ng Kongreso. Hindi nangingialam ang Presidente diyan (We do not know that. That depends on Congress. The President does not interfere on their affairs)," he said.
Panelo said the Palace would leave it to Congress for now but it would be the public which will decide on it.
"Sa ngayon siguro papabayaan na lang muna natin ang mga nasa loob ng Kongreso dahil sila ang mag-aaral niyan (We'll leave them be for now because Congress will be the one working on it)," he said.
"'Yang mga panukalang Saligang Batas (Proposals to amend the Constitution), ultimately the people will decide on that," he added.