Robin not surprised by Marcos exclusion of federalism in SONA

Senator Robin Padilla expressed no surprise Wednesday over President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s non-inclusion of federalism during his first State of the Nation Address.

"Kahit kailan naman narinig ko nung kami'y magkakasama sa kampanya, yung patungkol sa federalism," Padilla, who was recently elected as the chairman of the Senate constitutional amendments panel, said in a chance interview with reporters.

(I've been hearing about federalism all the time when we were together during the campaign.)

Even though Marcos did not explicitly ask to amend the Constitution, Padilla said the economic plans that the President laid out are also related to Charter change.

"'Yung iba naman, 'yung patungkol sa economy, 'yun na rin yun. May kinalaman na rin yun sa Saligang Batas (Many of the things he mentioned, including those about the economy, is related to Charter change)," he said.

Asked if he expects Marcos to support his move to amend the Constitution, Padilla said it is impossible to get it directly from the President as the latter might receive criticisms from doing so.

"Imposibleng manggaling [sa kanya]. Kasi pag nanggaling kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos 'yon iisipin na naman, gusto na naman, alam mo naman dito, sasabihin term extension na naman. Hindi gagawin ni Presidente yon," the neophyte administration senator said.

(It is impossible that it will come directly from the President because some might think that he is pushing for term extension. He will not do that.)

Despite being satisfied with the President's speech, Padilla said he expected Marcos to discuss the war on drugs and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict during the SONA.

"Ang mga gusto ko lang marinig don, narinig ko naman 'yung dalawa lang ang hindi, 'yung patungkol sa drug war at patungkol sa NTF-ELCAC (Most of what I wanted to hear were discussed except two, the drug war and NTF-ELCAC)," he said.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III and Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday said Marcos' first SONA had left out several vital issues in the society. They said the anti-corruption drive and the justice system were not extensively discussed during the speech.

Progressive groups also lamented the same thing, saying human rights, corruption, peace process, taxation, wage, security of tenure for workers, and attacks against trade unions were not tackled.

Malacañang defended the President, noting that issues not mentioned during the SONA also have his attention.

"The President has laid out his priorities. It doesn't mean that he is not going to pay attention to other concerns," Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said at a press conference.

She said what Marcos mentioned in his speech was "just the roadmap" for his administration.

"So, just because it wasn't mentioned, doesn’t mean it isn't in there,” she added.

Meanwhile, Padilla told reporters that his issue with Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva has already been settled.

"Ngayon, okay na kami (Now, we are okay)," Padilla told reporters when asked about the matter.

Although he answered in the affirmative when asked if the issue is now considered water under the bridge, Padilla still refused to disclose the reason he did not vote for Villanueva as majority floor leader last Monday.

Padilla maintained that the reason behind his action is not a personal issue.

"Definitely, that is not personal. I don't get personal," he said in mixed English and Filipino.—AOL, GMA News