Tuesday, April 29, 2008 Villar brushes off federalism 'moves' By Carlo P. Mallo
THE rumblings for a change in the present form of government to a federal one, which now has the support of 15 members of the Senate, is nothing but mere talks, Senate President Manuel Villar said.
In an interview Friday, Villar said the talks are merely to open the table for discussions on the feasibility of a Charter change to pave the way for federalism.
Villar is one of 11 senators who signed the proposal made by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who hails from Cagayan de Oro City.
"It will just be talks," Villar said over breakfast at the VIP Lounge of the Davao International Airport. "We just want the debates to start."
The Senate President also said that a number of leaders, especially coming from Mindanao, have asked him why federalism is not even being discussed amid the clamor of some sectors to shift the present form of government to federalism.
However, the Senate President was quick to clarify that his signature on the proposal to open the discussion for federalism does not signify his approval or disapproval of the issue.
"We will have to base our decisions on what the committee will come up with, after the discussions," Villar said.
For his part, Villar could not give a timeframe on how long the discussions on federalism will take on the committee level. "It will depend on haw fast they (the committee) will work," Villar said.
As for now, critics of the proposed shift to federalism have nothing to worry about as Villar would put it, "It's still along way to go."
Last week, Pimentel filed Senate Resolution 10, which seeks to convene Congress into a Constituent Assembly to revise the 1987 Constitution and establish a federal system of government.
The presidential form of government will be retained under the proposal to federalize the country. This move is supported by 11 other senators.
