Duterte bares signature-based plan for separate Mindanao

Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night raised the idea of Mindanao seceding from the Philippines also through a process based on gathering signatures.

At a news conference in Davao City, Duterte said it was Davao Del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez who first pushed for the "desirability of Mindanao seceding from the Republic of the Philippines."

"Kaya ko siya inilagay so that we can pursue. By this time you would know the wherewithal . Hindi naman rebellion, hindi 'yan sedition," Duterte said. 

(It's not rebelion, it's not sedition.)

"There's a process, I think, before the UN [United Nations] wherein you would gather signatures from all sorts of Mindanao verified under oath in the presence of so many people [to] decide that we want a separate..." Duterte said.

"Kaya kung ganu'n lang naman kayo diyan sa Luzon, sa Visayas, bahala kayo," he added.

(That's why if those of you in Luzon and in the Visayas will continue to be so, it's up to you.)

Duterte has repeatedly criticized the signature campaign for a people's initiative to change the 1987 Constitution.

He has linked President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who's from Ilocos Norte, and Speaker Martin Romualdez, who's from Leyte, to the Charter change campaign.

Marcos and Romualdez have been pushing for amendments to the economic provisions of Constitution.

In Hanoi, Marcos said he didn't know if people's initiative was still an option as a mode for Cha-cha.

Duterte said Cha-cha was meant to perpetuate some people in power.

"Mindanao is rich. But of course, kung mag-separate independent 'to at magpuntahan lahat dito ang Pilipino, then, it's gonna be a big problem," Duterte said.

"So in its growing years, you have to restrict. But you can come. Mga taga-Luzon, Visayas, we will not deny you," he added.

(If it will be separate and independent and Filipinos come here, then it's gonna be a big problem. So in its growing years, you have to restrict. But you can come. Those from Luzon and the Visayas, we will not deny you.)

Duterte said nothing has happened to the Philippines even after so many presidents.

"Gusto ko talaga. Gusto ko na (I really want it. I already want it)," Duterte said of a separate Mindanao.

"Nagsawa na ako sa kwan. Ilang presidente na kasi e... Walang nangyari sa Pilipinas," he added.

(I've lost hope. So many presidents have come and gone... Nothing happened to the Philippines.) —NB, GMA Integrated News