Duterte vows to institute federalism to bring peace to Mindanao

Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte (Facebook photo)

MANILA—To bring lasting peace and harmony to strife-torn Mindanao, PDP-LABAN standard bearer Rodrigo Duterte vowed to institute federalism as a perfect alternative to the stalled Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Federalism refers to a system of government in which sovereignty is constitutionally shared between a central governing authority and constituent political units.

“I will offer federalism to all, including (Moro National Liberation Front chair) Nur Misuari from the western side, because every Moro-politician would like to see federalism. And we have to do this because nothing can bring peace and appease Mindanao,” he said during the first Pilipinas Debates held at the Capitol University in Cagayan De Oro Sunday afternoon.

He also added that federalism will help “right the historical wrong written against the Moro people.”

The PDP-LABAN standard bearer stressed his proposed federalism will have the same configuration as the now stalled BBL which calls for the establishment of a new autonomous political entity known as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, replacing the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Sunday’s three-round debate gave each participant 90 seconds to answer a corresponding question, 60 seconds to another participant for a reaction and 30 seconds to the former for a counter-rebuttal.

All five presidential candidates were given a minute to say why they are worthy to be the next president and Duterte made a resounding vow to the Filipino people.

“Why am I here? I am here because I love the Philippines and I love the people of this country. This is an imposed restriction for me: I will get rid of drugs, suppress crime, and stop corruption in a matter of three to six months.”