PRRD not abandoning push for federalism: Palace

Panelo clarified that the President was not necessarily abandoning his push for federalism but just “expressing an idea” knowing that Congress is not prioritizing Charter change. (PNA PHOTO)

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte is not abandoning his push to shift to a federal system of government, Malacañang said on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this remark after Duterte, in a recent speech, said that he wanted few economic provisions in the Constitution and not necessarily to change the entire charter.

“I am sure that with that — the fundamentals provided by the law and hopefully if we can amend the Constitution, not all, but a few of the economic provisions and some…” Duterte said during the Peace Assembly for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in Cotabato City on Friday (January 18).

Panelo clarified that the President was not necessarily abandoning his push for federalism but just “expressing an idea” knowing that Congress is not prioritizing Charter change.

“Well, you know the President is a very creative person, if he feels that one method is not practical or cannot be realized he goes to another mode,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

“What is important to him is certain provisions in the Constitution must be amended and that’s the judgment call of the Congress,” he added.

Panelo said the President feels that Congress is taking “too long” to act on moves to amend or revise the 1987 Constitution.

“Perhaps what he is saying is that it takes too long for Congress to act on it. Remember he has been advocating for a revision of the Constitution at the inception of his presidency and Congress knew that. But Congress hasn’t taken serious moves to make it a realization,” Panelo said.

“He is expressing an idea, as he tells us he is fond of shaking the trees. Maybe he wants reaction from those who want to respond to his idea,” he added.

Speed up federalism push

Asked which particular economic provisions Duterte wanted amended, Panelo said that the President has previously mentioned his desire to liberalize the entry of foreign investments.

“He mentioned during the campaign about the entry of foreign investments. There is so much restriction. He wants to liberalize them,” Panelo said.

Panelo did not reveal whether Duterte was unhappy with the draft federal charter crafted by the House of Representatives but insisted that the President wanted the Constitution amended “at the soonest.”

“Hindi naman. Gusto niya lang madaliin (Not really. He just wants to speed it up). He is not alone, Congress has to do something about it too,” Panelo said.

“The federalism idea of the President remains. (It) will always be there because he believes in it,” he added.

Panelo said Duterte remains “optimistic” that the shift to federalism will take place before the end of his term in 2022.

“The President is optimistic that it will because he knows that federalism will help the development of this country. It’s a matter of, I think time, on the part of Congress to do it,” Panelo said.

Duterte, the country’s first’ President from Mindanao, has made federalism one of his major campaign promises during the 2016 elections.

Since then, Duterte has tasked a Consultative Committee (ConCom) composed of justices, ex-legislators, lawyers, academics, among others to draft a federal charter which has been submitted to Malacañang and is now accepting public feedback.

Duterte has also created an Inter-Agency Task Force on Federalism (IATF) to raise public awareness on federalism amid survey results showing it is the least of Filipinos’ concerns.

The IATF will take charge of “integrating, harmonizing, and coordinating ongoing efforts towards federalism and constitutional reform.”

Earlier, Panelo said there is still much time left for the Congress to tackle charter change and federalism before the President steps down in 2022.