PRRD stepping down a setback to federalism: ConCom

TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 15  – The Consultative Committee (ConCom) has expressed concern over the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte of stepping down, saying it would be a big setback to the campaign for federalism.

Edmund Tayao, Commissioner of ConCom reviewing the 1987 Constitution, said it would be very hard to push federalism if someone would replace President Duterte.

“It’s important if whoever is at the helm. If he steps down, we are as clueless as everyone else what will happen because this change takes more time and it’s really taking more time to proceed,” Tayao said in a press briefing here Wednesday.

The official said it would be sad if the Chief Executive resigns because it is only under his leadership that attempts to change the 1987 Constitution have moved forward.

“It might just be another academic exercise, which is really sad. If you are going to compare all the other initiatives, not one of this initiative had gone to as detailed as possible as what we have. There were no discussions on taxation and transition,” Tayao said.

“During the campaign, this initiative has already been discussed by President Duterte himself,” he added.

On Tuesday, the President said he was thinking of resigning as the country’s leader being tired of the endless fight against corruption in the government.

In a speech in Malacañang, Duterte admitted he told the military and the police during a command conference about his plan.

“Sinabi ko sa mga sundalo at sa mga pulis: Guys, I want you to know that I am thinking of stepping down because I’m tired,” Duterte said. “I am not angry [with] anybody. My chase against graft and corruption seems to be endless, and it has contaminated almost all government departments and offices.”

Under the initial federal constitution draft, Duterte could become as chairman of the Federal Transition Commission, which will carry its mandate until June 30, 2022. He will preside over the transition to the federal system of government.

The initial federal constitution draft assigns a transition president, vice president and members of the transition commission, but who will be ineligible to run for any public office in the May 2022 elections.

Former Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura, another ConCom member, said they revised the draft in response to Duterte’s plan to step down from office in 2019.

In the revised draft charter, the Chief Executive will instead call for an election for the transition president and vice president within six months from ratification of the new Constitution.

“We considered his suggestion. We took him at face value. The transitionary provisions in the proposed constitution include this provision on election of a transitionary president… He’s assuming that he’s old already and urge people to elect a younger president,” Nachura said.

Some ConCom officials were in this city for a two-day federalism roadshow led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Federalism is a system of government under which significant government powers are shared between the federal and the regional governments.

Duterte has been pushing for a shift from the unitary presidential to a federal form of government to establish powerful economic regions, provide more funding support for regions, solve the conflict in Mindanao, and decentralize powers to local governments, among others.

Under the national government’s original timetable, constitutional revisions will be done within 2018, ratify federal regions by June 2020, transition from unitary to federal government by 2022, and establish the Philippine Federal Republic by June 2022. (SQM/PNA)