A people’s version of federalism
phase one, is Movement of ( ATM) and the Anti- Trapo the Philippines the
(LEPI). ATM wants to guarantee that traditional politicians would have no uninhibited privileges in the new federal government.
The people’s version of the federal system is called the Filipino Federal Model (MFFM) of the Republic of the Philippines. MFFM consists of the political structure on the national (federal) level and the local (state) level.
Under the MFFM, the Philippines will be subdivided into 10 geo-political jurisdictions. These geo-political areas shall be considered as independent states or regions consisting of contiguous provinces and/or cities.
Each state/region shall be headed by a governor. Each state/region shall elect its own representatives (“parliamentarians”) in the National Parliament. The National Parliament shall be composed of about 110 parliamentarians. The number of parliamentarians shall be apportioned among the states/ regions according to the their population.
There should be one parliamentarian per one million population. For example, a region, like the National Capital Region, which has a population of 11.79 million, can elect 11 parliamentarians to represent them in the parliament. If a state has a population of only two million, then their representation in the parliament shall be limited to only two.
The Indigenous Peoples ( IP) of the Philippines shall likewise be ably represented in the National Parliament. Philippine Statistics Authority data from the 2010 census showed that the IPs numbered to about 8.06 million. Thus, using the same parliamentarian/population ratio, they can elect eight representatives to the National Parliament.
As in other federal countries like France and Great Britain, the National Parliament shall be led by a Prime Minister. The Prime Minister shall be elected by the parliamentarians amongst themselves.
The Republic of the Philippines size of will still be headed by an elected President. Following the election process of the United States of America, each state/region shall elect the President and Vice President in tandem. This will be done through
Jury system as part of judicial reform
One of the ills of the nation is the slow and barely credible judicial system. Yet, this was not addressed in the Federalism Institute’s draft Constitution. Charter amendments must address the perceived problems of the country. A major solution to this judicial problem is the institution of a jury system.
The US Constitution contains a section that reads, “The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury; and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any state, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed.”
The same proviso can be inserted in the proposed 2018 Philippine Constitution, thus institutionalizing a jury system in the Philippines.
This change is supported by another people’s organization - the
(“sovereign”) Philippine Trial by Jury Movement, which was founded by Mr. Sixto Lagare.
Indeed, a sure way of empowering the people is by incorporating a jury system in the judicial framework at the state level.
In the end, we Filipinos must make certain that governance remains in our own hands, and not with the elite and unrestrained politicians. As Thomas Jefferson said, “… in questions of power then, let no more be heard of the down from mischief by the chains of the constitution.”