Arroyo bats for federal state
Malacanang has said that the president does not intend to stay beyond 2010, but fears of a possible term extension have resurfaced, no thanks to the aborted Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government.
In today’s state luncheon with Swiss President Pascal Couchepin, that suspicion only grew stronger when the president admitted that she wants to push for federalism.
“I advocate federalism as a way to gain lasting peace in Mindanao,” said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In fact, part of Arroyo’s talks with President Couchepin focused on how the Swiss successfully made the switch to a federalist form of government.
While federalism is expected to empower provinces and give them more autonomy, it will also require changing the constitution and calling for a constituent assembly, a move that the president’s critics fear would give the administration the opportunity to tweak the Constitution and extend Arroyo’s term.
But Malacanang downplays the fears. Press Secretary Jesus Dureza insists any talks would only be limited to changing the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity into a federal state.
The Palace adds it’s best to let the Supreme Court decide the fate of their agreement first.
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