Namfrel: No need to elect transition leaders in federalism shift

The National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) on Wednesday said that rather than elect new leaders who would oversee the shift to federalism, the proposed transition commission should instead be composed of incumbent leaders to ease concerns that the proposal was intended to favor certain politicians.

According to Namfrel secretary general Eric Alvia, electing and having new leaders to implement the shift to federalism would prove problematic, as its motive could be questioned.

“Why can’t we just draw it from the existing leaders that we have right now? The transitional committee could, in fact, come from both chambers of Congress,” Alvia told the Inquirer.

Under the revised draft of the proposed federal charter, President Rodrigo Duterte’s and Vice President Leni Robredo’s terms would be cut to give way to the “transition president and vice president,” who would be elected within six months of the people’s ratification of the new Constitution in a plebiscite.

Duterte request

The President requested the provision to put an end to speculation that the draft charter was designed to enable him to stay in power beyond the end of his term in 2022.

Alvia expressed concern, however, that the election of transitional leaders may be seen as a way of bringing certain politicians to power.