Peoples Journal, Mar. 25, 2019, Gma Support For Federalism Stressed.pdf

THE leadeiship of

Senate last year, We

iterated its support

for

the federalism initiative

oJ President Rodrigo

"Rod/' Dut€rte.

adrhinistration's pro-

"The House of Represmtatives fully supports President Durerte'E crusade to set out federalism inthecountrythroughconstitutional processes," said House senior Deputy Majority Leader and 1Sagip party-list Rep.

posed federal Charter is a

prioritymesure. RBHNo. 15 is pwhing for a presidential-bicameral-federal sysbem of gov-

errunent and empowefs

Rodante Marcoleta.

Marcoleta madehis reaction after Moro NationalLiberationFrond(MNLF)

founding drairrnan Nur Misuari wamed of wtr

if

federalism will not materjlaltze.

He recalied that the House of Representatives last December voted 224 against 22 and with thee abstentions, approving on

shall

pursue this process given the people's mandate, expressed in the last electiors, for Charter change," Marcoleta explained. Earher, Arroyo said the

Speaker Gloda Macapagal-Aroyo yesterday re-

'

ARROYO

Congress to establish{edelal states by convening Congress into a constitu-

thirdandfinalreadingRes-

ent asserrHy (Con-Ass),

olution of Both Houses 15 (RBH 15) which amends the 1987 Constitution to effect Ptesident Duterte's proposed shift to a federal form of govemment

RBH No. 15 did not contain the antidlmasty provision ard included after amerdment the Vice

"We have done our

The House of Representatives supports Con-

part, rmder the ieadership of SpeakerGloria Macapagal Aroyo, to deliver the

draft new Charter to the

Pltsiddttrthelineof suc-

rately isnecessa-rybecause itwillshortenthe timeneed-

ed for Charter change (Cha-cha).

Earlier, Mrs. Aroyo admitted that. the proposed shift to a federal formof govemmentwodd not materialize duringher

term as Speaker.

The country's presidentandvicepresidentwill be elected with each other to serve fow-year terms, subject to one reelectio[ dre proposal said. Fnr members of Congress, the proposal mandates that thev should be holders of colli:ge degrees and will also serve fouryear ternrs.

convm-

The measure staies that the first election under the proposed Constitution will be held on the second Monday of May

ing Congress into an assembly and voting sepa-

Rya[ Ponce Pacpac!

cession to the presidency.

Ass, believing that

F)ag.- U