“There will be regrouping in the political arena dito sa Davao. Still in the works,” Duterte said at a press conference at Grand Men Seng Hotel, Tuesday night.
He named former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to head the said group which he later referred to as a movement. Alvarez was seated beside Duterte during the press conference. Duterte said it was Alvarez who first advocated “the desirability of Mindanao seceding from the Republic of the Philippines”.
Duterte who is a lawyer clarified the move is not rebellion nor sedition because it will go through a certain process.
“Di naman rebellion, hindi yan sedition. There’s a process in that, I think before the United Nations where you would gather signatures from all sorts in Mindanao, magpirma, verified under oath, in the presence of so many people, we sign that we want a separate Mindanao,” Duterte said.
Duterte said the movement would initially start the machinery towards the goal of Mindanao independence and later on become a political party that would only accept people with principles as members. “Ako mag pranka ako we do not accept people na walang principyo,” he said.
Duterte was referring to his political party Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP) where most of its members left to join President Marcos’ political party.
He said he wants an independent Mindanao because nothing has significantly changed in the countryunder several administrations. “Kung mag independent tayo, ako gusto ko talaga, gusto ko na.”
Alvarez said there is a need to “educate the people about this advocacy of a Mindanao independence. We have to talk to the leaders, convince them why we have to then, we can form a solid group to push the realization of that advocacy.”
Duterte who was President from June 30, 2016 to June 30, 2022, campaigned for federalism. Prior his six-term presidency, he also promoted federalism during his election campaign sorties.
As President, he formed a Consultative Committee to purposely review the 1987 Constitution to make amendments to shift to a federal system of government. However, the plan did not materialize.
At the same press conference, Duterte said it was “not the right time to do it because may mga sporadic rebellion pa”.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte (R) and former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez at Tuesday night's press conference.
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