Congress seen to prioritize 2019 polls over federal shift

There’s a slim chance the federal charter prepared by President Duterte’s consultative committee would be able to breeze through Congress in the next few months, as many lawmakers are already busy for the midterm elections in May next year.

According to former Quezon congressman Erin Tañada, politicians now seem lukewarm to tackling the draft federal charter the Concom submitted to President Duterte before he delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July.

Tañada, vice president for external affairs of the opposition Liberal Party, raised the observation in an interview with “The Chiefs” on Cignal TV’s One News before the weekend.

“At this point, I would think not anymore. Although right after SONA, Congressman Veloso made mention he’s ready to work at it as soon as possible,” Tañada said, referring to Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso.

He added even Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was not expecting the draft charter to get tackled during her term.

“It seemed even Speaker GMA said we might not be able to finish it within her term. So at this point, I don’t see Congress will be able to act on it before May 2019,” he added, referring to Arroyo by her initials.

Duterte convened the Concom in February to review the 1987 Constitution in preparation for the drafting of a charter for a federal form of government.

Professor Edmund Tayao, a member of the Concom, said he is confident it would eventually be smooth sailing for federalism despite initial delays.

“As we see it, both the previous and the current leaders of the House, so far, have positive reactions,” Tayao told The Chiefs.

He said that he has been hearing “so much support” from local government officials and other stakeholders since their recent regional presentations and consultations.

It’s now up to politicians, he said, to work on approving the draft charter. “You are already looking at the midterm elections. Lahat ‘yan busy na for their preparations,” Tayao said.

Former senator and Concom member Aquilino Pimentel Jr. echoed Tayao’s sentiment, saying he respects the decision of Congress to hold off action on the draft charter.

Pimentel said Concom’s task is only to review and make necessary amendments to the 1987 Constitution, and not to pressure Congress into approving the draft federal charter.

But for former chief justice Reynato Puno, Concom presiding officer, Congress should prioritize their proposed charter. “For me, this should be given priority, because we can’t solve our problems under a unitary form of government. The election is only in their interest. The interest of the people should be prioritized – a new constitution,” he said in Filipino.

Meanwhile, Tañada said it’s LP’s position that the government should not rush federalism.

He said the LP wants to know how much the government would have to spend to run a federal form of government.

He said they also want to know which problems could be addressed without amending the Constitution.