Trillanes snubs review of draft federal charter: ‘Back to zero lahat iyan’

A staunch critic of federalism, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Saturday revealed that he has refused to even look at the Consultative Committee’s (Con-com) draft federal constitution and scrutinize its contents.

Trillanes, who vocally opposes the proposed shift to a federal government, confirmed in a radio interview that copies have been given to senators but stated he did not want to participate in the Senate review of its provisions.

“Na-forward formally sa Senado at na-publish 'yan, but, sabi ko nga, hindi ako pupunta diyan at idi-discuss ko kada provision 'yan kasi alam ko, na pagka nagkaroon ng Constituent Assembly, back to zero lahat ‘yan," Trillanes said.

The senator strongly doubted that the draft charter would get enough support when both chambers of Congress convene into a constituent assembly (con-ass).

"Wala ni isa diyan ang mananaig na kapag sinabi ni [House] Speaker [Pantaleon] Alvarez na ‘ayaw ko niyan, tanggal ‘yan,” Trillanes said.

“So, ngayon, bakit ko ngayon pag-aaralan ‘yung isang dokumento na alam ko naman na ibabasura lang sa kagustuhan nila Duterte?” he added.

Trillanes reiterated he was not convinced by the Duterte administration's push for federalism.

“Lahat po ‘yan, part po ‘yan ng panlilinlang para maka-engganyo ng suporta,” he added. — Margaret Claire Layug/MDM, GMA News