Duterte pushes for Federalism instead of BBL

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (PNA photo)

MANILA — Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is pushing for federalism instead of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) among the Moro people.

Duterte urged the grand imam of Davao on Thursday to help him urge the people to support federalism rather than the BBL.

“Don’t hope too much on it,” he said and told Imam Mohammad Pasigan that the BBL is Congress is not what the Moro people wanted and therefore, would not resolve the Bangsamoro problem.

“What I don’t like about Manila is they make wrong decisions for Mindanao. They act as if they know everything about our land, and then put us in jeopardy,” he said as quoted in a Philippine Daily Inquirer report.

“Do you think the MILF will accept a diluted version? What about the other factions? I think we will be counting body bags as President Aquino had warned,” he added.

Duterte, instead recommended Federalism as the only system that will create positive changes for the Moro people.

“It is the viable alternative to the prevailing antiquated system and to effect meaningful political and social changes in the country,” he said.

“I saw that this is the answer so I agreed when Reuben Canoy (founder of Radio Mindanao Network and one of the strong advocates of federalism) and Senator (Aquilino) Pimentel, the father, asked me to help in pushing for federalism,” he said.

Federalism, a system based on democratic rules and institutions will divide the government between a central governing authority and constituent political units.