Former Chief Justice Puno thinks federalism will get full support of public

Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno. (File photo by RYAN LEAGOGO / INQUIRER.net)

Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno thinks the proposed shift to federal form of government will have the full support of the public.

In a chance interview over the weekend, Puno referred to the 2016 presidential campaign during which President Rodrigo Duterte became vocal on his stand on federalism and yet he gained the most votes over his opponents.

“Isang issue yan na pinagdebatihan nung mga tumakbo bilang pangulo,” Puno said. “At doon sa mga tumakbo, si Pangulong Duterte lang ang may plataporma para sa pederalismo. Yung ibang kandidato, kontra sila sa pederalismo.”

[That’s one issue that was debated on by those who ran for president. And among those who ran, it was on President Duterte who had federalism on his platform. The other candidates were against federalism.]

“Nakita natin yung naging resulta ng halalan. Kaya ayun, isang indikasyon na ang ating taong bayan ay sinusuportahan na ang federalismo,” he added.

[We saw the results of the election. So that’s one indication that our people will support federalism.]

In 2016, Duterte said federalism was an alternative to the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law if this should fail to pass Congress.

READ: Duterte: Federalism an alternative to BBL

Puno also said that now would be “the better time” to implement federalism over the country so that the government could tackle the Bangsamoro crisis in Mindanao.

“Para sa akin ay late na nga tong federalism eh,” Puno said. “Dahil itong mga nagtutulak ng federalism, isang daang taon na nilang tinutulak ito, pamula pa noong kay Jose Rizal,” Puno said.

[For me, we’re late in considering federalism. Those who are pushing for federalism have been doing so for a hundred years, since the time of Jose Rizal.] /atm