Clarify shift to federalism — Leni

Vice President Leni Robredo urged the administration yesterday to clearly explain to the public its campaign to change the form of government to a federal system amid fears it could be used to prolong President Duterte’s stay in power.

In an interview in Daet, Camarines Norte where she attended various events, Robredo stressed while she is open to the proposed shift in the form of government, such a drastic change – which requires amending the Constitution – must be studied thoroughly and supported by the people.

“They always say that federalism is the answer. But I always ask, what is the question? If federalism is the answer, then what is the question?” she said in Filipino.

“We can only say that this is the right thing to do if we know what this (federalism) is for,” the Vice President said. “Because many do not understand what will be its implications.”

The shift to federalism is among the priority programs of the Duterte administration, along with the war on drugs.

The country currently has a unitary form of government with much of the power emerging from the central government.

Federalism provides more powers to local governments, including the power to establish courts, implement business regulations and impose taxes.

Robredo urged Duterte allies in Congress to carefully study the proposals to shift to a federal form of government, stressing that some areas in the country might be left out in the development process.

In a previous speech, Robredo noted that a successful federal government is dependent on certain factors – the local government units must have the capacity and competence to handle so much authority and that system of patronage does not dominate politics at the local level.

Duterte earlier said he sees “federalism as a suitable and acceptable compromise that will solve the problems of Mindanao.”