DAVAO CITY—President Duterte on Saturday made another pitch for federalism and promised to step down as soon as a framework for a federal form of government is established.
“I give you my word, if the framework is already there, I will resign to give way to the new president,” Duterte said.
Mr. Duterte said he would not wait for his six-year term to end once there is an assurance that federalism will be fully implemented.
“Accelerate federalism and let us find a configuration of government where the regions are more powerful,” Duterte said, addressing Congress.
The shift to a federal form of government was one of the key planks on Duterte’s election campaign platform, saying federalism will unleash the growth potentials of other regions aside from the capital, Manila. He said this would also resolve decades-long unrest among Muslim Filipinos who have felt left out of whatever economic development has been achieved by other regions.
The President said that if advocates of federalism could complete the framework within three years, he would cut short his term.
‘Just hurry up’
“I will not wait for six years. Just hurry up,” Duterte said.
His dream, Duterte said, has always been to give more power and capacity to local governments and to decentralize the national government.
This, he said, can spur locally driven development programs.
The President said that the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, for example, has endless potentials, especially the Liguasan Marsh, which is believed to sit atop large oil deposits.
The challenge, he said, would be for the Bangsamoro people to elect good officials and leaders for their future federal state.
“You elect men who are really honest. Those who have fervor to help their fellow Moros,” Duterte said.
Duterte also appealed to the Moro people—including the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front—to work together for peace and unite to lead the region, and urged those who continue fighting the government “to stop it.”
‘Go to Isis’
“Things will improve and you will have your own share of development money,” the President said as he called for an end to hostilities in Mindanao.
He also said development could take place if the Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist groups stop bombings and other attacks.
If they don’t, Mr. Duterte said, “I will buy you tickets” to “go to the Isis,” referring to the Islamic State group that is battling governments to establish a global caliphate.
Duterte said peace and progress can be achieved in Mindanao through the unity of the people along with the shift to federalism.
“This is my dream for my country. This is my wish for Mindanao,” he said. —KARLOS MANLUPIG