Federalism to create bigger problems for PH— Sereno

Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. FILE PHOTO/Lyn Rillon, PDI

Updated 8 p.m.

The Duterte administration’s bid to shift to a federal form of government would create bigger problems for the country, ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said on Monday.

In a speech at the opposition-led “United People’s Sona,” Sereno warned of a chaotic government if the proposed federal Constitution drafted by the Consultative Committee (Con-com) pushes through.

The ousted Chief Justice added that Con-com’s federal Charter was not a document for “hope,” but a document for “desperation” and “showing little importance for the weak.”

“Magiging malala ang ating mga problema. Darami ang ating mga away: gobyernong federal laban sa gobyernong rehiyonal; rehiyon sa rehiyon; probinsya sa probinsya,” Sereno said.

“Mamamayagpag ang mga warlords. Dadagdag ito sa mga problema ng hudikatura: sa dami ng bagong batas, buwis at bayarin sa mga rehiyon,” she stressed.

These reasons, Sereno said, were already enough for Filipinos to express dissent against Charter change.

“Ipaglaban natin ang isang kinabukasang malaya sa mga dayuhang gobyerno, ligtas sa karahasan, may ginhawa sa buhay, at taglay pa rin ang kabutihan nating Pilipino,” Sereno said.