Revgov is transition to federalism

Some Filipinos think that Revgov is only about how to give Duterte more powers for a dictatorship. But there is greater reason why Duterte must have the necessary powers of Revgov. He needs it to be able to achieve federalism for the Muslim region of the country. 

The Islamic State’s occupation of Marawi is the greater threat to peace and order in our country. It requires strong leadership. During the recent fight for the city at least 58 soldiers and police were killed along with 138 terrorists.

Patrick B. Johnston and Colin P. Clarke writing for Foreign Policy ask the question: Is the Philippines the next caliphate?  This is the more important reason for Revgov that is not being talked about.

The Islamic State is already thinking about how to regroup. The Philippines may be a long way from the group’s birthplace in the Middle East – but the jihadis have already seized and held a city (Marawi) there for three months and exerted a grim cost on the country’s security forces to retake it.

We have had a long history of Islamic militancy, first with Moro National Liberation Front and then its break-away group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. In both cases, the conflict was about autonomy for the Muslim part of the country. Indeed, it was born out of this desire to practice their religion and culture which they felt were being colonized by the predominantly Christian capital. 

But Marawi changed all that. The Philippine Army had to battle with Islamist militants connected with the Islamic State. Marawi is the largest city in Mindanao’s autonomous region with a population of 200,000. 

The Islamic state reportedly sent nearly $2 million to militants in the Philippines to help the group in their war to possess Marawi. 

The militants were able to hold the city for more than three months and this despite the counter-insurgent force with US trained special operations forces.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte proclaimed Marawi “liberated” on Oct. 17, one day after his security forces killed Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute, the top two leaders of the jihadis in Marawi. However, the war is not over.  The Philippine government faces the cost for the reconstruction of Marawi. Moreover the challenge of reconstruction will bring with it extremism. The bloody government counterterror will disrupt the peace process between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. 

Marawi may be a taste of things to come. 

With the threat of a return of the Islamic militants, the Philippine government will have to act quickly, pass the BBL and work with the general Muslim public who want a federal state. Without the Muslim public’s support, it will be hard for radical Islamic terrorists to make it their haven.

With a corrupt and wrangling Congress, Duterte can push for federalism if he has the powers needed. That has been long understood by both sides. In the early days, the fight was for the Muslims to secede but this has now changed. 

I remember early in the struggle, the OIC told leaders of the rebel groups it will not support secession. The compromise solution was reached by working for a federal structure instead. But to this day it cannot be implemented because it would mean changing the 1987 Constitution.  Conservative elements think that federalism could lead to secession but this can be tackled by a new Constitution with Muslim participation and provisions which would prevent secession.

The following post appeared under my name in FB. I did not write it but I think the same way. The only name I could find in looking for its author was the name 148 pjmisa. I think the same way as he or she does in justifying a Revgov.

“It must be admitted that talk of a revolutionary government can be rather alarming to those who have not considered the matter too deeply. However, it is not really a permanent or indefinite Revgov that people are asking for but rather one that seems to be an unavoidable prerequisite in order to facilitate and properly implement the shift to federalism.

The 1987 Constitution essentially obliges the citizenry to rely on the very people (Congress) who are the main cause of the need for change. 

And the reality is that we do not have the luxury of time. 

Unfortunately, the many perplexing defects in the 1987 Constitution that have made critical the need for transition to a federal government have also made not just determining the actual form itself but even just the matter of transition a daunting undertaking of heroic proportions.

What people have not seemed to appreciate is that there can be no orderly transition possible in a state of dissention and chaos. Constructive criticism and democratic opposition cannot be fueled by obviously brazen lust for power and criminal intent. 

Clearly, attaining federalism within the current Constitutional restraints does not seem to be a job even for Superman.

Yet another complication is the matter of the BBL. Even as the Moros cannot be expected to forever hold their breath on the matter, the BBL will only pass, if ever, after much acrimonious and bitter debate, mostly about the Islamic provisions. And if it is addressed first, there will then be the problem of integrating it into the federal system that will be established. 

Rather, the ideal situation would seem to be to use the BBL, without the Islamic provisions, as the template for all or most of the federal states to be established, and then let the Bangsamoro state(s) deal with the Islamic provisions themselves. This would promote a national perception of equality and unity while avoiding strife by allowing the Moros to decide the things which unduly concern them themselves.

But will they have the patience to wait for Congress to work things out?

Ranged against all these and defending us is but One Man – Duterte – albeit supported by the great majority of the people. Though he does not ask for it, we must give him the weapons he needs to slay the dragon rather than just poke at it. He has after all shown clearly enough that he deserves them, can be trusted with them and can expertly manage them as well. To delay much longer is only courting disaster.

So the final question: Will a TRANSITIONAL REVGOV be bloody and chaotic?

The answer: Only for the CRIMINALS who may want it to be. It is certainly better than the alternatives.