NewsPCID Holds Forum on Federalism, Autonomy, and Mindanao Peace Process

 

 

The Forum on Federalism, Autonomy, and Mindanao Peace Process was convened in order to gather stand and responses from the Bangsamoro diaspora regarding the present call of the government to shift into federalism as form of government. It was well-attended by members of the Bangsamoro diaspora who are also leaders of the media, the academe, The Armed Forces, business, and politics.

 

The keynote speaker, Former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. stressed on the current situation that most of the powers of the government are concentrated in Metro Manila, or as he called it, imperial Manila, despite having passed the Local Government Code. The fact that only the collections of the BIR are subject to sharing arrangement is a clear reluctance of the central government of Manila to let go of the powers it is hanging on to. With this observation, he suggested in creating 12 federal states—5 in Luzon, 4 in Visayas, and 3 in Mindanao.

 

The speaker gave recommendations on how the Executive will run under the federal form of government:

1. The President and Vice President will still be elected by the same electorate.
2. The President and Vice President must be elected in tandem.

On the Legislative:

1. The senators must be elected by federal state.
2. There must be 6 elected senators per federal state.

On the Judiciary:

1. One Supreme Court must be retained.
2. The people must be duly-represented.
3. A timeframe for decision making of cases must be set.

On the Local Government:

1. The Federal State Governor is another political entity to be created under the federal form of government, as contrasted with the Provincial Governor.
2. The Mayor and Vice Mayor must be abolished.
3. The party list system must be eliminated.

 

In conclusion, the speaker laid out the challenges to be faced under the federal form of government:

1. Warlordism will still remain a problem, thus, should be suggested prohibited by the Constitution itself.
2. While the Constitution says that political dynasties be prohibited only by law, the question to be answered is how to prohibit political dynasties from sprouting in all over the Philippines.

 

Some questions raised during the open forum were answered by the panel: Atty. Raul Lambino, Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, and DFA Undersecretary for International Economic Affairs Manuel Teehankee.

 

“The road to federalism has already been gone through by states, will we benefit from doing what has already done by others?”

 

Atty. Lambino: The acceptance of a federal state is through national ordinance. Most of the successful federal states came from East Germany, which all transitioned from a unitary form. It is not merely a transfer of powers — but a new Constitution that will allow the formation of the federal system of government.

 

Usec. Teehankee: The least question pertains to the last progress made by the BBL. The Moro groups must actually call their own Congress. I am a staunch supporter of full federalism. My bias would be to have all the region states defined and be given full state status. The vested interest will align with the promise of Rizal to have three Federal Republics, what we already know now as Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. My supposed question is to have the number of allies. The success of federalism depends on how much voice we have. It will be impossible to attain full federalism if you are divided, not to mention, getting a strong opposition from the political families in the provinces.

 

“After three years, the tendency of the process (to transform into federalism) is to decline.”

 

Atty. Lambino: The first three years are the strongest phase of the process. We have very strong opposition which could undermine us.

 

Usec. Teehankee: In our studies, abrupt transformation into federalism is found in nations that came from war. However, the process will be more gradual if it comes from a unitary form. We need to pattern it through Spain that slowly transitioned into a federal state. I am more cautious of the repercussion. They think that federalism is a fix-all solution, but the process to federalism may result in chaos (another armed struggle) if not acted on timely.

 

“Amongst all the regions, what are the factors, in your data, that affect transition into federalism, assuming the early stages of federalism will take place?”

 

Usec. Teehankee: Those are only population predictions. Ilocos is one example where migration of people is too prevalent. It is like Ireland where there are more Irish outside of Ireland. Our prediction, federalism can at least mitigate that. The strength of federalism is to unleash the competitiveness of the regions. Unlike unitary where there is only one game in town which is the national budget.

 

“Whether you think it is a smart idea, to have the BBL passed before having federalism, or otherwise? Federalism will not support the BBL or neither the Shari’ah law in the Muslim Mindanao.”

 

Atty. Raul Lambino: We should keep on pushing for the approving of the approval of the BBL. There is no assurance that we could get the 18 votes in the Senate, we can’t just have everyone waiting for the Constitution to be remodeled. We have pending bills in Congress asking for a reform—that is the present dynamics in our legislative department.

 

Is MILF in support of federalism?

Atty. Sinarimbo: Much to my knowledge, they want the BBL passed first before we go to federalism. They will not abandon the peace agreement that they signed with the government. If you get to a stage that federalism takes off, our stakes is still lesser. The CAB as framework is different from the 1987 Constitution. Let us change that provision in order to entrench the law. The law on the BBL is not comprised of one law but several, but when it became a law, Congress can already change it.

 

Usec Teehankee: The question of trust is a major question. Everyone wants to be 100 percent sure. This is the closest thing we have to federalism after many attempts. We have to take a leap of faith. Everyone has to pitch in. Immediate answer, yes you can have the BBL passed first. The weak spot of our call to federalism is that we are divided. If we are united, and confident that we are in the side of correctness, they (opposition) can’t get into. According to my economic bias, you have to elevate the on the right, the far right and the business side, you have to do your own current.

 

“How do you recommend, in order that we (autonomy) don’t get left behind by the federalism train? How do we get autonomy be included in the discussion?”

 

Atty. Lambino: The ARMM is already autonomous, already has its own government, but it is higher in that it is almost a state. You can have that leverage to bargain with the national government. Among all grouping of all ethnic tribes, you have all the leverage.

 

“Is there a guarantee that drugs and crimes will be removed under a federal form of government?”

 

Atty. Lambino: There is no guarantee that if we go federal all our problems will be alleviated. But if we will not go federal all those problems we have now will continue.