Framer of 1987 Charter: Federalism may be a Trojan horse for authoritarianism

MANILA, Philippines — One of the framers of the 1987 Constitution expressed concern that President Rodrigo Duterte might have a bigger agenda for proposing a shift in the country's government system from unilateral presidential to parliamentary federalism.

"I am concerned that federalism may be a Trojan horse for a bigger agenda to allow an authoritarianism to suit the preferences of President Duterte," lawyer Christian Monsod said in a forum at Far Eastern University in Makati City last Tuesday.

Monsod, a framer of the 1987 Constitution, said that Duterte's proposal to shift to federalism has serious implications on the country.

The lawyer also noted that Duterte is exploiting his high approval ratings to rush the change in the Constitution.

"That approval rating, however, is real because I agree with the farmers I represent in many cases that his heart is clearly for the poor," Monsod said.

However, asking the people to totally trust him on the urgency and scope of changes in the Constitution is "dangerous demagoguery given that only 27 percent of the people admit to knowing anything about the Constitution and virtually nothing about federalism."

Monsod noted three challenges to Duterte from his election campaign: everyday problems (criminality, drugs, red tape on public services, traffic problem and corruption), peace in Bangsamoro and with the National Democratic Front  (NDF) and development.

"Is federalism the answer to these challenges?" Monsod asked.

The Constitutional framer said that the first challenge on problems of the ordinary people can be addressed with strong executive powers under the current Constitution.

"There is no better example than Davao City itself," Monsod said.

Meanwhile, the solution to the Bangsamoro issue is already provided in the Constitution and the NDF is not asking for charter change, the lawyer said.

"We have failed in human development and I submit that we failed not because of the Constitution but because we have not fully implemented it especially its provisions on social justice and on local economy," Monsod said.

He stressed that changing the Constitution is not the solution to the country's problems.

"The Constitution is not the problem, it is part of the solution," the lawyer said.

The Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revisions of codes is set to start tackling Charter change next week.

The first hearing on bills and resolutions on the issue is set on December 8.