MNLF supports ‘federalism’

Datuwata U. Adziz

DATU SAUDI AMPATUAN, Maguindanao --- The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) strongly supports the national leadership on its campaign towards a federal form of government from the present unitary set-up.

Datuwata U. Adziz,former Board member of Maguindanao and vice-mayor of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, and now the Western Kutawato State Revolutionary Committee chair of the MNLF, said that last April 25 Chairman NurMisuari  called on all state chairmen, national unit members, and parliament senior leadersto discuss the final peace agreement and the advocacy of President Rodrigo R. Duterte on federalism.

“Chairman Misuarialso consulted us about the coming formal peace talksbetween the MNLF and the GPH on the first week of May. He also updated us on the results of his series of meetings with the President which turned out to be all positive. They discussed federalism,”Adziz said.

Earlier, Misuarivoiced confidence that progress will be achieved in Mindanao under the federal system of government which the Duterte administration in pushing for. He said he fully supports the initiative of President Duterte but “it must be a genuine form of federalism.”

"The President wants us to have federalism, I said it is okay for me because that is midway between colonialism and independence," Misuariwas quoted as saying.

Misuari said he is optimistic that progress will be achieved in Mindanao once the federal system of government pushes through.

"One hundred percent, there will be progress. Fellow Mindanaoans are fed up being colonized,” Misuary further said.

The country, under the federal system, eyes the creation of 11 federal states, three in Mindanao, while keeping a presidential form of government and increasing the number of elected senators from the present 24 to 81.

Under a federal system of government, every state can collect its own taxes, enjoy autonomy, has the power to pursue projects which it deems good for the welfare of the people, and has the power to make its own laws.

For a change in the form of government, It would need not only amendments but revision of the Constitution.

Under federalism, there will only be one Armed Forces of the Philippines, Central Bank, educational system, foreign policy, monetary system, and Philippine Flag.

Further, there will be a change in the qualifications of the two highest officials --- a degree holder or a college graduate. In the Federal Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives will remain.

As proposed, state senators should at least be college graduates. Every federal state will have agovernor and vice governor. The state legislators will be unicameral in each federal state.

In the federal system, the Supreme Court and its power remain.

Local government units will still be intact and their Internal Revenue Allotments  increases. Revenues earned by the government will be divided --- 20 percent for the federal or central government and 80 percentfor the federal state.

Poor regional states can avail of the so-called equalization fund that will be administered by the central government to help these states aside from having a Loan Commission. (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE ACOSTA– MINDANAO EXPOSE’)