PIMENTEL “It’s not meant to benefit President Duterte, we believe that federalism is better for the Philippines.”

The federalism model being pushed by the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP) preceded the term of President Duterte saying that the party has been espousing the shift in the government since 1982, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel II said.

Pimentel, PDP national president, said since its creation in 1982, the PDP has been advocating the shift to federalism.

“When PDP was formed in 1982, federalism was its advocacy. Who could have thought that Mr. Duterte will become president,” Pimentel said on radio.

“It’s not meant to benefit President Duterte, we believe that federalism is better for the Philippines,” he added.

Even Constitutional Committee (ConCom) chairman retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno assured that the draft was not designed to benefit Mr. Duterte.

As member of the PDP, the shift to federal form of government was among Mr. Duterte’s promises during the 2016 elections which he won via landslide.

According to Pimentel, the President still has four years to push for federalism.

“Federalism is among the platforms of the Duterte administration that’s why it will happen within six years, so far that is within the timeline,” said Pimentel.

However, Pimnetel admitted that it is still a long way to go for the draft federal constitution.

At the Senate, heavy debates are expected on the mode in tinkering with the Constitution—either through constitutional convention (con-con) or constitutional assembly (con-ass).

But Pimentel remains optimistic that a plebiscite to present the federal constitution to the Filipino people within the next four years.

Pimentel raised the possibility of merging the plebiscite during next year’s mid-term elections.

“That is the most practical way to have it with the 2019 elections but if delayed, we cannot really force it,” said Pimentel.