Parliamentary gov’t first before federalism, says FVR

Amid the Duterte administration's bid to lay the groundwork for its proposed government system shift to federalism, former president Fidel Ramos reiterated his preference for a parliamentary form of government.

"Mali 'yung focus sa federalism agad," he said in a brief, chance interview at the Manila Hotel, where he launched a book on Thursday. "Parliamentary first."

This stance is consistent with his advocacy for a parliamentary form of government—over the current presidential system—which, as he said in 2016, could eventually lead to federalism.

An attempt at Charter change that pushed for a shift to a parliamentary system through people's initiative emerged but failed during Ramos' term.

The group behind this Cha-cha bid, the People's Initiative for Reform Modernization and Action, also asked for the amendment of the 1987 Constitution to lift term limits of elective officials but was blocked by the Supreme Court in 1997.

This time, the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, through a Consultative Committee (Con-com)he created, is leading the advocacy towards a shift to federal form of government via amendments to the Constitution.

The Con-com has submitted a proposal for a draft federal Constitution, but no amendment or revision to the fundamental law of the land would be considered valid until the approved changes are ratified by the Filipino people voting in a plebiscite. — BM, GMA News