Concom must also consult anti-federalism groups — Leni

Vice President Leni Robredo has asked the consultative committee (concom) to include anti-federalism groups in its deliberations on charging the country’s form of government.

“How can we decide whether or not to shift to another form of government if we only listen to one voice, the voice of those advocating for federalism,” Robredo said on Saturday.

“Why don’t we listen to those who oppose it, because the best decision can only be arrived at after we listen to divergent views,” she added.

The Concom set the deadline for submission of the final copy of the federal constitution on July 19.

Former chief justice Reynato Puno, who chairs the Concom, earlier said that at the rate things are going, it is possible to beat the deadline including the regional consultations.

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

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

Robredo earlier urged the government to study carefully proposals to shift to a federal form of government, noting some areas in the country may be left out of the development process.

She lauded Concom’s approval of a provision banning political dynasties in the new Constitution.

Under the proposal, relatives of an incumbent official are prohibited to run for the same position.

These include parents, siblings, children, grandchildren and grandparents.

“I’m against political dynasty. During the 16th Congress, I was one of the coauthors of a bill which sought to prohibit political dynasties,” she said.

Robredo was representative of Camarines Sur’s 3rd district before she was elected vice president in 2016.