Ping zings new charter wringer

“If the objective is genuine decentralization and devolution, why revise the Philippine Constitution and divide the nation?”

Senator Panfilo Lacson yesterday urged a review of the proposed constitutional changes, saying if the objective of federalism is “decentralization and devolution,” there should be no need to revise the 1987 Constitution.

Lacson reiterated that “decentralization and devolution” can be achieved by faithfully implementing the existing Local Government Code even as he stressed no need in dividing the nation into states.

“If the objective is genuine decentralization and devolution, why revise the Philippine Constitution and divide the nation?” Lacson posted on Twitter. “We only need to implement the Local Government Code and achieve the same purpose.”

Lacson’s statement came after President Rodrigo Duterte’s Consultative Committee approved a draft federal constitution aiming for a shift to a federal form of government.

The draft proposal was transmitted to Congress on Wednesday.

The draft proposal is likely to play in the next surveys to follow Duterte’s high approval rating in the latest Pulse Asia Survey.

Lacson said Duterte gained big numbers in the latest survey for effective showing of sincerity to the public.

“In my long years in politics, somehow I’ve learned two major factors that endear our country’s leaders to the people – performance and messaging, not necessarily in that order,” he said.

Duterte’s received 88 percent approval rating and 87 percent trust rating in the latest Pulse Asia survey conducted from June 15 to 21.

“His crass language and blunt words, no matter how he delivers them, come across as his tools to project sincerity. Either that, or he is simply ‘teflonic,’” he added.

Teflonic is an idiom referring to a person who manages to avoid criticisms and maintain a good reputation despite committing negative acts and figuring in scandals.

The senator noted that while the President enjoys high trust ratings, majority of Filipinos would not allow him to cut short his term.

“That could probably be the reason why the concept of transition government under the draft charter won’t fly. Majority of Filipinos would not allow him to cut short his term to allow the election of a transition president,” Lacson said.

Congress will tackle federalism after it opens its third regular session this month.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez proposed to postpone the midterm elections on May 2019 to prioritize the transition to federalism.