Critics may side with anti-federalist Sara Duterte – Pimentel

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio (File photos from Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Federalism critics may take advantage of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s opposition to federalism, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said Monday.

Last week, the mayor told reporters that she was not in favor of federalism, which is one of the campaign promises of her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, saying that it would only “embolden Mindanao warlords.”

READ: Inday Sara says federalism might only embolden ‘warlords’ in Mindanao

“Somebody might take advantage of that – those against federalism. They will take her side because of that expression of opinion,” Pimentel, speaking partly in Filipino, said after PDP-Laban’s campaign rally in Caloocan City.

The PDP-Laban party president, however, said that he would try to “convince” the presidential daughter that “warlordism” would not be a product of a shift to a federal form of government.

“It can still be discussed,” Pimentel said. “Maybe I can convince Mayor Sara that maybe warlordism is independent of the concept of federalism. Maybe warlordism is a result of another factor — maybe our political culture, not necessarily federalism.”

For his part, senatorial candidate Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine National Police, made it clear that the push for federalism was among PDP-Laban candidates’ main goals in its agenda.

“We have to respect her decision,” De la Rosa said. “That’s hers. For me, being a PDP-Laban member that the number one advocacy of PDP-Laban — federalism. So I have to go with the aspiration of the party.”

/atm