No rush: Palace wants public to have ‘intelligent understanding’ on federalism
The government wants the public to have an “intelligent understanding” on federalism after Malacañang announced that the proposed federal Constitution is open for public scrutiny and possible revisions.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said government is not rushing to pass federalism as it wants the public to have a better understanding of the move to revise the 1987 Constitution.
READ: Proposed federal Constitution now open to public scrutiny, revisions
“So we welcome all feedbacks now. We are not rushing it so that the public could better understand what we are amending” Roque said in Filipino in an ambush interview in Lipa City on Friday.
The government has launched an information drive to promote federalism after surveys showed that majority of Filipinos do not support the proposal to shift into a federal form of government.
But Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson loused up the drive even before it could start by launching a lewd dancing video that raised public outrage and doubts.
READ: ‘I-pepe-dede-ralismo’ video sparks outrage
Although it raised public awareness, Roque said the messaging of Uson was not right.
“Well, ang sa akin naman po hindi po ata tama yung mensahe na pinadala ni Asec Mocha Uson. Totoo po na ngayon at least maraming nagsalita tungkol sa pederalismo pero ang nais natin ‘yong intelihenteng pagkakaintindi bakit gusto natin ng charter change patungong perderalismo,” he said.
Despite the reckoning by the country’s lawmakers, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Thursday said Charter change (Cha-cha) was not yet dead but “just on a power nap.” /muf
READ: ‘Cha-cha just taking a power nap’
