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By William B. Depasupil, Reporter
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez
said Monday he is concerned that a
provision in the Senate proposal to
change the form of government into a federal system could
break the
country apart.
Last week, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel
Jr. authored a resolution pushing for federalism. To date, 13
senators are supporting it.
While he too is for federalism,
Gonzalez said he objects to a provision in the Senate proposal
that will allow federal states to form separate republics.
That just may allow some states
“to secede from the republic,” he added.
Gonzalez said the provision could
trigger civil war in the Philippines, not so different from what
happened in East Timor and in Kosovo. Both became independent
countries after a civil war with the states they used to be part of.
He added that the move could even
“balkanize” Mindanao. Balkanization is a geopolitical term
referring to the splitting up of a region into smaller, often
hostile, states, according to Wikipedia.
“We will never allow any
situation that will endanger the integrity of the republic,”
Gonzalez said. “They might have East Timor, Kosovo and balkanized
Mindanao.”
As a whole, federalism is fine,
“except for that provision,” he added. Gonzalez said he has
assigned a study group to dissect the Senate resolution,
particularly the provision on creating separate republics.
The senators’ resolution
proposes to convene Congress into a constituent assembly to amend
the 1987 Constitution, and that will pave the way for a change in
government.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan said he
signed the resolution with reservation. Any change in the form of
government should be implemented after 2010 or after President
Gloria Arroyo’s term, he added.
“I don’t want it to be used
by this administration to extend its stay in power,” he said.
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