Hugpong Federal Movement turns into a political party

CEBU, Philippines - The Hugpong Federal Movement has transitioned itself to become the Peoples Solidarity Federal Party (PSFP) after realizing it is hard to change the old system if not through a political party.

National chairman, lawyer Joel Obar, said it maybe radical and revolutionary in the sense that in the past it is almost always the president who determines his political party. This time, it is the party that determines the president.

The solidarity party is calling upon the people to continue their clamor for change and to house the reform agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte, said Obar, adding that PSFP has to restructure government in order to see to it that the evils of the past—corruption in government, illegal drugs, and other crimes—are stopped.

Obar noticed that some people in government, under the Duterte administration, is slowly being eaten by the system and, as a result, volunteerism and the clamor for change have not changed after all.

For this reason, the PSFP has came up with a stronger approach notwithstanding diversity in cultures and traditions. A concept paper for the creation of PSFP will be submitted to Malacañang in a few days, said Obar.

The envisioned six federal states are: The Bangsa Moro state; the State of  Visayas, consisting of Regions 6, 7, 8 and Region 18 (NIR); the South Luzon state, comprising of Bicol, Romblon, Masbate, Mindoro, and Marinduque; Manila state with Regions 4, 4A and 4B; the Central Plain state from Bataan to Nueva Ecija; and the North Luzon state with Regions 1, 2 and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

As soon as the shadow parliament is formed, Obar said the six states will meet to come up with a federation or a federal constitution. He explained the PSFP maybe called a revolutionary government but made it clear it does not mean bearing of arms, as revolution already started when Duterte talked about radical change in government.

Obar said the creation of the PSFP is an answer to the call of Duterte for the people to take an extra mile in pushing for radical changes in our system that led this country to perdition since the 1935 Constitution up to the present.

The Peoples Solidarity Federal Party was launched in Baguio City during the EDSA anniversary on February 25, with veterans of the EDSA revolt from 1986-1987 together with other revolutionary forces supporting it.

Obar enjoins every Filipino to take advantage of the momentum provided by the present administration because it will not come again after Duterte, “unless we allow ourselves to be eaten up again by the same system of oligarchs, drug lords, feudal lords, land lords, and the like.”

Meanwhile, Congress have to rise above ground if they are really for this country and for the next generation, said Obar who was hoping Congress will realize that the government is not for them, but for the people, by the people and with the people.

“They should rise above personal interests and look at the wisdom of changing the structure and change it themselves. This is the time for us to act and join the party of the unheard and the oppressed Filipinos as early as now,” Obar added. (FREEMAN)