PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte declared Friday night that he would ask Congress to pass the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law pushed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front should Filipinos reject his proposed shift to federalism through a Constitutional Convention.
Speaking to the Muslim community during the Eid‘l-Fitr celebration in Davao City, Duterte hoped he could persuade the Moro community to accept federalism because it will fulfill the aspirations of the Bangsamoro.
“If I could persuade everybody in Mindanao, if I could persuade my Muslim brothers, including Nur Misuari of the MNLF, there will be a reconfiguration of the territory and most of them would occupy regional and state positions,” Duterte said.
He said his federalism proposal is also one of the reaons why Moros were not given key positions in the government even if he is a “son of Mindanao.”
“It will be difficult because I see that at the end of the year, we will be able to come out with a framework on how to implement federalism,” Duterte said.
“But if the Filipino nation [does not] want it, then I am ready to concede whatever is there in the BBL. We will see to it that it will be passed [by Congress],” he added.
Duterte also outlined some of his ideas on sub-states under a federal government, including, for instance, a separate territory for the Tausug people.
“In fairness to Nur, we will reconfigure his territory for the Tausug nation. Then we will have new boundaries which are not intended to separate Moros from the Christians. Rather it is only to delineate territories,” he said.
“But that should not keep us apart from being Mindanaoans because most of the Christians here in Mindanao are supporting federalism and the BBL,” he said.
If he succeeds in pushing for Federalism, Duterte envisions the actual shift to come in the middle of his six-year term.
“We must accept that we will be a nation that will be founded on peace and understanding. I think, with the grace of Allah, I might be able to do it in six years. It will not be overnight but certainly it will come two to three years from now,” he added.
“I assure you that something will change before I end my term so to my brothers in the MILF, a promise is a promise. My word of honor is something that I value very much so when I’ve already given my word, that is it and I will not change it,” the President said. “These are things that we must work in, our aspirations. This will be another chance for the Mindanaoans to expect change, it might not come again,” he added.
