Jejomar Binay: 'Filipinos won’t accept federalism'

MANILA, Philippines — A few days after Malacañang formed an interagency task force to promote federalism, former vice president Jejomar Binay said Filipinos will not accept the administration’s envisioned Charter change and warned of secession by groups against it.

“Federalism, matatalo yan. Hindi tatanggapin ng mga Filipino (it will be defeated, Filipinos won’t accept it),” Binay, who was the guest during yesterday’s Kapihan sa Manila Bay, said.

He said federalism is a step closer to secession.

The Philippines is not yet ready for a federal form of government as it has yet to achieve what he called a “national identity” similar to major countries under federalism. 

“That’s my belief because I grew up with towns that want to secede. One requirement for a shift to federalism is to have a national identity,” he said in Filipino and English.

Binay said the shift to another form of government is untimely, noting what the Filipinos need today is to maintain the unitary form of government and not encourage secession.  

Instead of revising the 1987 Constitution, Binay said he would prefer that the government focus on the economic provisions to boost development. 

“What we need to amend are the economic provisions and I think it is only a choice of maintaining a unitary type of government as against federalism,” he said. 

Binay questioned the anti-political dynasty provision under the proposed charter of President Duterte’s consultative committee (Concom), saying that qualified leaders should not be prohibited from running. 

He said he has yet to read the proposed charter of Duterte’s Concom. 

Meanwhile, Concom member and former senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said the success of federalism would depend on the Filipinos’ understanding of it as a concept. 

Pimentel accused Binay of producing “publicity stunts” on his stand against federalism, especially on issues pertaining to secession.

“We are making sure that secession will still be prohibited even if we become federalized. The one Armed Forces of the Philippines will ensure that secession won’t happen,” Pimentel said. 

In another development, Binay, who is seeking a congressional seat in the 2019 polls, said that if he wins, he would be an ordinary congressman and not seek the speakership. 

He said he would focus more on education, health, agriculture and concerns of local government units. He vowed to review the investigative powers of Congress.

Less corruption

Under the proposed federal government, corruption will be lessened as cases filed against erring government officials will be tried within a short period, a Concom member said yesterday.

“No case would be tried in over three years,” lawyer Susan Ubalde-Ordinario said during a forum on federalism at the Parañaque City Hall.

“All cases will move faster because under the proposed federal government, the Supreme Court will be converted into four courts with functions unique to each,” she added.

Constitutional commissions looking into alleged wrongdoings in government will be established in every region.

“Under the federal system that we did, every region will have its own ombudsman, its own (Civil Service Commission),” Ordinario said.

The courts under the federal charter would be strengthened and a federal Court of Appeals will be established in each federated region. – With Ghio Ong