Allies want Duterte to stay for federalism

SOCORRO, Oriental Mindoro — Allies of President Duterte want him to stay in office during the transition period from presidential to parliamentary, contrary to his public pronouncements that he is ready to step down upon the establishment of a federal form of government.

The transition also assures Vice President Leni Robredo of finishing her term by 2022 before the full federalism system is set up.

In a bid to push for federalism, booklets were distributed the other day during the Chief Executive’s visit to the People’s Day Celebration in Barangay Batong Dalig here.

Duterte was met by local officials led by Gov. Alfonso Umali Jr., Representatives Doy Leachon and Reynaldo Umali upon his arrival at past 4 p.m. via helicopter. Also present were Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) secretary general Guiling Mamondiong, who is also chairman of the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte – National Executive Coordinating Committee People’s National Movement for Federalism (MRRDNECC PENAMFED).

In his message in the booklet, Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno said the federal system would expedite the development of the entire country by unleashing the forces of construc- tive competition among the states.

“We will pursue the shift to federal system of government, where every federal state and its constituents are empowered socially, economically and politically,” Sueno said. “This is to avoid the vicious cycle of concentrating legislative and executive powers and to a certain extent, economic powers, to highly developed regions of the country.”

The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the MRRD-NECC PENAMED authored the booklet titled Federal-Parliamentary for the Philippines.

Sueno said federalism would give equal opportunity for every region to attain selfsufficiency, self-reliance and self-governance under one federal constitution.

“We appeal to the Filipino people to go for Constitutional Convention so your voice can be heard loud and clear,” the message on the back cover of the 48-page booklet reads.

Among the parameters listed in the transition provisions is that the incumbent President shall still be president until his term ends in June 2022. The other transitory provisions include: 1) The incumbent President shall convene the Parliament with all the members of both houses of Congress who are elected as such in accordance with the existing Constitution and applicable laws. 2) Upon the convening of the federal parliament and the election of the Speaker in accordance with law and for a tern of three years, the incumbent President shall nominate the Prime Minister for confirmation by parliament.

3) The Prime Minister shall act as head of the Cabinet subject to the oversight power of the incumbent President. The incumbent Vice President who has a sixyear term shall continue to act as such until 2022.

4) The new VP to be elected as such in the first parliamentary elections in May 2022 will be presiding officer of the parliament.

5) The President shall organize states by appointing the Chief Minister of each state and his deputies pursuant to its structure in accordance with the New Constitution whose term shall end upon the election of officials of each state in the May parliamentary election.

6) The Chief Minister shall appoint his state ministers and deputy ministers and such other officials as may be authorized by the President who shall in turn appoint their staff and personnel as may be authorized by the Department of Budget and Management.

7) The structure of the bureaucracy of each state shall be similar to that in the regional government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

8) The state parliament shall be those elected in the congressional districts in every chartered city and/or urban center and in every province.

9) The President shall also appoint the speaker of the state parliament and his three deputies.