DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign for federalism struck a high note among people of Palawan, a province long embroiled in a dispute with the national government over its share of the controversial Malampaya fund.
Duterte, whose country-wide “listening tour” has been interpreted as his interest in running for President in 2016, said only under a federal form of government could Palawan finally get its just share of the controversial Malampaya gas fund, the fund which has been dragged in the allegations of corruption involving high government officials and alleged key pork barrel scam operator Janet M. Napoles.
“What makes your blood boil is to hear afterward that the money only went to the pockets of the corrupt,” Duterte said in a federalism summit hosted by Palawan Governor Jose Ch. Alvarez.
Duterte said a federal form of government would ensure that Palawan would get its fair share of Malampaya revenues.
“(Only under a federal form of government) can Palawan get the revenues, retain its just share, and remit the balance to the national coffers,” said Duterte, who appeared surprise by the enthusiasm showed by the people, organizers said.
“It’s the reverse of the present situation when revenues go to the national government first, and then, they give the provinces crumbs from the table of plenty.”
Palawan has been contesting the national government for its share of revenues generated by the Malampaya offshore gas fields. Alvarez, in a statement, said that of the estimated P73 billion it should get from the funds, only P3 billion was released during the Arroyo administration.
Reports said much of the fund has been dissipated in massive corruption, and included in the exposé made by former Napoles bookkeeper, Benhur Luy in the Napoles scandal, and confirmed by the Commission on Audit Chairperson Grace Pulido Tan, who recently retired.
Duterte also made the same pitch, lamenting the government’s failure to release Palawan’s share in the Malampaya fund, before students at the Palawan State University in another forum.
“Can you imagine what P73 billion could do to you? It would give you quality education and modern equipment such as computers for all the students to use, making PSU world-class and ensuring a brighter future for our youth,” Duterte said.
He also said federalism could be the fallback position of the Bangsamoro problem should the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) fail to pass in Congress, or should it be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. “Otherwise, we will continue to have war in Mindanao, and the loss of precious lives, both of combatants and innocent civilians, will destroy not only Mindanao but the rest of the country as well, since terrorism more than open combat is the new norm of rebellion all over the world.”
Palawan was the last stop in the second leg of Duterte’s “Listening Tour,” which started in Cebu City on Thursday, January 29, and proceeded to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan and Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija on Saturday, January 31.
The first leg took him to Butuan City in Agusan del Norte on January 22, and three days later to Zamboanga City; and although the weather prevented his visit to Pagadian City, he was still able to speak to the people through the phone patch.
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