THERE is now a perceptible campaign for Federalism form of government. If we remember the Federal movement became moribund following the indecent and arbitrary replacement of duly elected officials with the proponents of the Federal system during the revolutionary (read dictatorial) regime of Cory Aquino.
With nearly all of them ensconced as the new centurions in the government many of the leaders forgot all about Federalism.
But some of the Federalists continued with the dream and advocacy for the system. The most passionate of them all are people from Mindanao. They are the political leaders and scholars who have seen the iniquity and injustice in how power and national wealth are controlled and dispensed by the centrist government.
It is argued that the unitary system was crafted by the United States for effective control of the Philippines as it exits from its status as commonwealth fiefdom of America. To achieve this dubious agenda, the central government was accorded full control of political power and resources.
Outside of Metro Manila and the satellite provinces all other regions were to be treated like mendicants a social aberration which had been perpetrated to the present.
The stark contrast could have abetted a revolution. But the system effectively divided and appeased the people with corrupted elected leaders from the provinces succumbing to the largesse purloined from the treasury. And they built mansions in exclusive subdivisions, resided there and kept their homes in the provinces only for political expediency. Aye there’s the rub! And they rob.
But there’s a price to pay for the overdevelopment of a metropolis which is too small for a population which is too large. The highways, byways and even skyways cannot ease the traffic gridlocks. The national leadership, always coming from the national capital, has always thought of Metro Manila as what matters most in the country. Even the export processing zones are not allowed beyond the periphery of MM.
Movement of goods and people often times takes eternity.
Corruption in high and low places stagnates government services. Railways are crippled, vehicle plates and licenses are either withheld by suppliers are not claimed by the government agencies for the commissions are not yet paid in advance.
All these iniquities are product of a failed system. When it was the time of Benigno Simeon Aquino to preside corruption was institutionalized in the bureaucracy, drug menace and criminality blossomed nourished by sheer nonchalance and inefficiency of the Aquino administration. His generals, governors and mayors were on the take.
It was time to resuscitate the Federal Movement. The fading leaders of Mindanao addressed it to their conscience to revive the movement and in doing so set-aside their political differences.
From Cagayan de Oro, Reuben Canoy and Nene Pimentel came to Davao City along with Joe Zubiri ofBukidnon. They sought and begged Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to lead the new Federal Movement. Federalism, they said, is the last option for Mindanaons to be liberated from being vassals of Imperial Manila.
They struck the right chord in Duterte long angered and insulted by having to ask permission from the central government and from small government functionaries to build a railway or reclaim washed away beachfronts.
Aside from that he is convulsing inside watching the helplessness and hopelessness of the national leadership in addressing drugs and criminalities.
Duterte accept the challenge to lead the Federal Movement. When he said “yes” he went on a nationwide practically one-man road show peddling Federalism on a virtual shoestring budget. He spoke about it in every turn, never mind if it’s a small audience. But it was surprisingly not small groups at all. Duterte was an enigmatic leader to most who only heard of his name.
A mayor from down south who imposed the smoking ban, banned firecrackers and other pyrotechnics on Christmas and New Year’s eve, imposed speed limits and being happily obeyed by his constituents. They have not seen him in person and very rarely on TV and newspapers but just the same they wonder how this man can turn Davao City, once dubbed as the killing field of the Philippines, to becoming the most peaceful and livable city the world.
His audience now including the Chief Executive Officers of Asia listened to him intently, wondering where on earth did he come from. He sprinkles his extemporaneous speeches with expletives and the sweat-reeking spectators would laugh and cheer while the well-heeled although appalled would look up to him with awe and admiration. In the CEO of Asia forum in Makati, Duterte spoke about Federalism and begged his listeners to support it.
In the middle of the open forum that followed a lady executive stood and demanded that the Mayor run for President for he, she intoned, is the remaining salvation of the troubled Philippines.
“I am not interested”, he answered back explaining that he does not only have the wherewithal to stage a campaign, he also added that he is not qualified.
Prodded to consider his position, Duterte obliged, “look at your choices from the many candidates from the north who want to be President. They are good. If you cannot find anyone, then look far south. You have the best”.
Duterte won by a landslide despite the machination and magic of PCOs machine. Before he can be sworn in as President, many drug addicts have given themselves up while not a few drug retailers were neutralized. This prompted Aquino to ask in his usual impish manner: “Bakit hindi niyo ginawa ito noon pa”.
The answer is in the political will.
“Duterte”, as UP Professor Clarita Carlos would describe, “has fire in his belly. He is intelligently courageous”. Qualities which Aquino does not have.
Less than 60 days in office, President Duterte is trusted by 91 percent of adoring Filipinos, 8 percent+ still reserving their assessment while less than 1 percent and that includes former Human Rights Chair now Senator Leila De Lima, hate his guts.
In his National Heroes Day speech, Duterte reiterated his firm resolve to crush the drug syndicates, end corruption and pleaded before the nation to support Federalism. Hearing this from the most trusted President the Philippines ever had, achieving that goal is not farfetched.
Early morning at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, venue of the celebration, it was raining heavily. Before the military honors started the rain stopped.
As he spoke that in that event, even the Philippine flag behind him was fluttering like it was reveling.
