Former Vice President Jejomar Binay expressed yesterday his opposition to the proposed shift to a federal government, saying the proposed draft on the federal charter would be rejected by Filipinos.
Binay, who will run for a seat in the House of Representatives in 2019, said a shift to a federal government was “not timely” and would not likely be implemented.
“Federalism will lose, Fiipinos will reject it,” Binay said, adding that federalism was one step to secessionism.
He said the government should instead push for better economic provisions to spur growth.
Senate leaders last month rejected the draft charter of former president and Speaker Gloria Arroyo, saying time was running out.
If Arroyo’s proposal is not passed, it would have to be refiled in the 18th Congress, which starts in July 2019.
Consultative Committee member Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr, a proponent of federalism, said Binay should read the draft and help Filipinos understand federalism.
“I have always maintained that the success of the federalism idea will depend on the understanding of the people,” Pimentel said, adding that secession “will be prohibited even if we become 
federalised.”




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