Zubiri, Pimentel on Duterte plan to separate Mindanao from PH: Last thing we want

MANILA - Fellow Mindanaoans Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III have distanced themselves from the plan of former president Rodrigo Duterte to separate Mindanao from the rest of the country.

In an interview with reporters, Zubiri initially said he has no comment on Duterte’s plan but he added that it is the last thing that they want.

“With due respect to former president, I think right now the last thing that we want is magkagulo-gulo, magkawatak-watak ang ating bansa. Ang akin dyan ay slow down natin ang away ngayon dahil ang importante ay kapakanan ng bayan (for the country to be divided. For me, we should slow down these fighting for the welfare of the country),” he said.

“I think all these fighting between the different groups is not going to be good to our country, not going to be good for our children, our children’s children,” he added.

Pimentel, for his part, said the plan needs more study but noted that he is “against any suggestion of secession or separation of part of the Philippine territory.” “We have to work tirelessly on making this nation function as a working effective State,” he said.

Senator Francis Escudero believed the plan is “not Constitutionally possible.”

Duterte raised the idea of of Mindanao seceding from the Philippines also through a process based on gathering signatures.

At a news conference in Davao City, Duterte said it was Davao Del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez who first pushed for the "desirability of Mindanao seceding from the Republic of the Philippines."

"Kaya ko siya inilagay so that we can pursue. By this time you would know the wherewithal . Hindi naman rebellion, hindi 'yan sedition (It's not rebelion, it's not sedition)," Duterte said.

During Duterte’s administration, he threatened to put up a revolutionary government to fight rampant corruption, and even suggested to change the form of government from Democratic to Federalism but he failed. (AOL, GMA Integrated News. With an additional report from the Mindanao Examiner)