Group launched to pursue federalism

CEBU, Philippines —  A national organization was formally launched to promote the federal system of government under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

The People's Federal Reform Movement for Justice and Reconciliation (PFRMJR) convened at the Cebu Parklane International Hotel last Saturday where they also inducted its officers with Presidential Management Staff-Visayas Undersecretary Mark Roa Gimenez as an inducting officer.

During the event, the officers and members led by its president, Atty. Joseph Entero, passed a resolution requesting Gimenez to be the national chairman of the PFRMJR of which he accepted.

“…the Honorable Undersecretary Mark R. Gimenez has proven himself as a man of dedication, honesty, competence and integrity during his several years in both public and private service,” read the PFRMJR resolution.

Duly registered by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the PFRMJR, Inc. is a national organization that seeks to promote federalism as a viable structure of governance to promote inclusive growth and development of the country.

The officers and members are pro-federalism advocates who are political leaders and campaigners in their own right and who come from the different political spectrums of the society.

The group was formed to support and help the Marcos’ administration on his present and future programs and projects for the betterment of the lives of the Filipino people.

The PFRMJR is mostly composed of original federalism advocates such as the National Movement for Federalism (NamFed) and Cebu Movement for Federalism (CemFed) formed by seasoned political officer, Rudy "Kid" Cañeda who is now the national liaison officer of the group.

Other officers are Matt Palabrica as the executive vice president; Dr. Lope Santos III as vice president for Luzon; Dr. Girlie Amarillo as vice president for National Capital Region; Atty. Gerardo Carillo as vice president for Visayas; Wilfredo Guerra as vice president for Mindanao.

Engr. Billy Roseno as the secretary-general; Larry Menzon as deputy secretary-general; Ernest Evangelista as treasurer; Richard Tumulak as auditor; Dr. Nestor Abrematea as media and information officer, and Atty. Allan Legaspi as general legal counsel.

The national secretariat is composed of Jeffrey Aribal, Paul Alvin Fajardo, Carolyn Iglesias and Archimedes Lungay.  (FREEMAN)