Duterte feels Congress “slow” on federalism, Palace says

January 21, 2019

Malacañang said on Monday Congress seemed "slow" in acting on the proposal for a shift to federalism, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to bring up the possibility of changing even only the economic provisions of the Constitution for the entry of more foreign investments.

In a speech in Cotabato City last Friday, Duterte said, "hopefully if we can amend the Constitution, not all, but a few of the economic provisions."

He refused to further elaborate on his proposal during the peace assembly for the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

"Well, I do not want to discuss it with you now because that will be our next and it's not your problem anymore," he told the BOL supporters.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte could have mentioned the proposal to change at least the economic provisions of the Constitution as he was just "expressing an idea" amid the slow progress on federalism in Congress.

"Well you know the President is a very creative person, if he feels that one method is not practical or cannot be realized, he goes to another mode. What is important to him is certain provisions of the Constitution must be amended and that is the judgement call of the Congress," he said.

He said Duterte could have felt that it was taking "too long" for Congress to act on federalism.

"You must remember that he has been advocating for a revision of the Constitution at the inception of his presidency, and Congress knew that. But Congress hasn’t taken serious moves to make it a realization," said Panelo also chief presidential legal counsel.

Duterte created last year a consultative committee that prepared a draft Constitution under a federal government. It was submitted to Congress. But as of now, there is no concrete action yet and the House of Representatives even came out with its own draft.

Asked of the economic provisions that Duterte wants to change, Panelo said, "He mentioned during the campaign about the entry of foreign investments, there is so much restriction, he wants to liberalize that."

He also said that the President is not giving up on federalism.

"The President is optimistic that it (federalism) will (be passed by Congress) because he knows that federalism will help the development of this country. It’s a matter of I think time on the part of Congress to do it," he said. Celerina Monte/DMS