Duterte says national hero Jose Rizal advocated federalism

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday claimed that, like him, national hero Dr. Jose Rizal and other heroes of the Philippine Revolution advocated for a federal form of Philippine government.

 

"Actually, it is only not me, but every great mind of this country, were really for or are for our federalism," explained Duterte during the swearing-in of the officers for the People's National Movement for Federalism (PENAMFED) at Malacañang.

 

"Tayo ‘yung surrogate, a lackey of the Spaniards at that time. And sila Rizal, alam nila that they had to stop this kind of line of authority. There was no freedom at all except coming from one person," he added. 

 

Duterte also revealed that Emilio Aguinaldo, the first President of the Philippines, was also a federalist.

 

"It’s about time that we take a deep look at federalism. Iyan nga ang gusto ni Rizal eh. Akala ko ba naniniwala tayo kay Rizal? He’s the foremost hero and everybody else and even Aguinaldo at one time he said that this country has to change into something like empowerment of the other places of the Philippines, otherwise we would not be able to control it," the president said. 

 

Duterte had declared during his campaign for the presidency that "nothing short of a federal form of government" could solve, not only the peace problem in Mindanao, but the other ills afflicting the country. — DVM, GMA News