‘Rody should remain head of federal gov’t’

MANILA, Philippines —  President Duterte should remain head of state if ever the country shifts to a federal form of government.

At a Malacañang briefing on federalism yesterday, Lito Monico Lorenzana, president of the Centrist Democracy Political Institute (CDPI), said Duterte should stay in office during the transition period.

“President Duterte…should continue his dual  role as head of state...and head of government, leading and presiding over the new unicameral parliament. We need him up to 2022,” Lorenzana said.

Former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel Jr. expressed the same view in an earlier Palace-initiated briefing on federalism.

Lorenzana said they would present their proposal to the 25-member commission to be appointed by the President.

He said the CDPI’s proposal adopted and updated the 2005 consultative commission documents.

“In our proposal…the legislative and the executive are fused…The head of government is the prime minister, with his Cabinet recruited among members of the parliament,” Lorenzana said.

He said Congress should start its discussions on the shift to a federal form of government next month.

Lorenzana said the first parliamentary elections should be held not later than May 2020.