Duterte still pushing for federalism, but thinks it will happen after his term

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he is still pushing for a federal form of government even if he did not mention this during his fourth State of the Nation Address before a joint of session of Congress.

Duterte told reporters after his speech that it was not the "proper time" to discuss charter change.

"It’s better left in conferences that are not allowed to be open to the public," he said.

"Sa isang provision lang if there are a lot of complaints. A lot of pros and cons. Mahilo ka. So better, you just talk it among yourselves and present it to the public ano na, ‘yung package na completed."

Asked if he is still pushing for federalism, Duterte said: "Yes, but I said there are things which I cannot mention now. Federalism is good but there are certain things that you have to be very clear."

"One is that it devolves a lot of authority to the local governments, regional. It must be something like, the president, I suppose that it would come after me. But it has to have a strong president to put together the country," he added.

"Pero ako, I’m out of it because I think that it will pass beyond my time."

Duterte has been pushing for constitutional change through the adoption of a federal system of government, arguing it will address economic and power imbalances. He earlier asked the House of Representatives to fulfill this within his term which ends in June 2022. — BM, GMA News