Pimentel cautions President Aquino on Moro substate

A former senator has cautioned President Benigno Aquino III against agreeing to a Muslim sub-state in Mindanao, saying the proposal is actually causing anxiety among the Bangsa Moro people.

Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said it would be better for Malacañang to consider a federalist government although this would require constitutional amendments.

Pimentel said his own consultations showed that the Bangsa Moro “are in favor of the adoption of a federal state rather than go through the anxiety of substate which has a nebulous meaning in the concept of sovereignty of nations.”