Former Senator Aquilino ‘Nene’ Pimentel Jr. has called on President Duterte to stay in his post once the shift to a federal government is put in place under his watch.
Pimentel said he disagrees with the President’s pronouncement that he would resign if the federalism is approved, saying he must instead stay put and show to the public the new system works.
“Huwag siyang mag-resign. (He should not resign) He should stay on and implement it para makita ng tao, ‘Hoy, maganda talaga ito’ (to show the people, ‘Hey, this is good),” Pimentel, a known advocate of federalism, said during a Palace press briefing.
“Kung ma-adopt na itong federal system (If the federal system is adopted) within the first three years of his incumbency, huwag siyang mag-resign (he must not resign) that’s what I’m saying. He should go ahead and implement this process,” he added.
Pimentel said it would take a man like Duterte who strongly believes in federal government to effectively implement the new system in the early stages. “Otherwise, kung sino-sino lang diyan ang mag-implement, baka wala sa puso nila (anybody might implement it without genuine sincerity),” he added.
The President earlier said he was ready to cut short his term and let others take over once the proposed federal form of government is approved by next year. Duterte, whose six-year term ends in 2022, earlier endorsed federalism as one of the legislative priority bills during a meeting with Congress leaders.
Pimentel said he proposes a federal government system that would “disperse power” from the central government to various federal states.
Under Pimentel’s federalism proposal, there would be 12 federal states – five in Luzon, four in Visayas, and three in Mindanao. Metro Manila will become the capital of the federal government.
He said the federal states in Luzon are Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, and Bicol.
In Visayas, the federal states are Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Western Visayas and the group composed of Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon and Marinduque provinces.
The federal states in Mindanao are Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao and Bangsamoro.
Pimentel said the country’s President and Vice President will be elected nationally while the number of senators will be increased to around 80 to represent the federal states.
The former senator also raised some concerns about the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), saying it tends to favor only one armed group in Mindanao – the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
He said it was also difficult to implement the BBL provision to elect only congressional representatives, and not executive leaders any more.
Pimentel, meantime, said he is ready to serve the country amid reports he is reportedly being considered to be part of the commission that will study amendments to the Constitution.
Pimentel said he disagrees with the President’s pronouncement that he would resign if the federalism is approved, saying he must instead stay put and show to the public the new system works.
“Huwag siyang mag-resign. (He should not resign) He should stay on and implement it para makita ng tao, ‘Hoy, maganda talaga ito’ (to show the people, ‘Hey, this is good),” Pimentel, a known advocate of federalism, said during a Palace press briefing.
“Kung ma-adopt na itong federal system (If the federal system is adopted) within the first three years of his incumbency, huwag siyang mag-resign (he must not resign) that’s what I’m saying. He should go ahead and implement this process,” he added.
Pimentel said it would take a man like Duterte who strongly believes in federal government to effectively implement the new system in the early stages. “Otherwise, kung sino-sino lang diyan ang mag-implement, baka wala sa puso nila (anybody might implement it without genuine sincerity),” he added.
The President earlier said he was ready to cut short his term and let others take over once the proposed federal form of government is approved by next year. Duterte, whose six-year term ends in 2022, earlier endorsed federalism as one of the legislative priority bills during a meeting with Congress leaders.
Pimentel said he proposes a federal government system that would “disperse power” from the central government to various federal states.
Under Pimentel’s federalism proposal, there would be 12 federal states – five in Luzon, four in Visayas, and three in Mindanao. Metro Manila will become the capital of the federal government.
He said the federal states in Luzon are Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, and Bicol.
In Visayas, the federal states are Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Western Visayas and the group composed of Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon and Marinduque provinces.
The federal states in Mindanao are Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao and Bangsamoro.
Pimentel said the country’s President and Vice President will be elected nationally while the number of senators will be increased to around 80 to represent the federal states.
The former senator also raised some concerns about the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), saying it tends to favor only one armed group in Mindanao – the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
He said it was also difficult to implement the BBL provision to elect only congressional representatives, and not executive leaders any more.
Pimentel, meantime, said he is ready to serve the country amid reports he is reportedly being considered to be part of the commission that will study amendments to the Constitution.
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