Duterte tells Misuari: Federalism will go through legislative process

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday told Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari that the government’s push for federalism will have to go through the legislative process.

“‘Yung federalism is being crafted by Congress. Maybe somehow we can craft a set up within the federal structures, pero it has to go into a process and I’m sure chairman Misuari knows that — everything must be in accordance with the Constitution,” Duterte told reporters in an interview.

Duterte earlier revealed that Misuari threatened to wage war against the government if it fails to pursue a shift to federalism.

READ: Misuari to declare war if gov’t fails to push federalism – Duterte

The President said it was President Corazon Aquino who initially promised a federal form of government for the Moros and Misuari is still “sticking” to that agreement.

“The original agreement. I think that was the assurance given to him by Cory Aquino — that there will be a federal system that could govern this country, the structure, and he is still sticking to that agreement,” he said. /ee