Robredo questions need for charter change

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday questioned the need for a shift to a federal form of government and stressed that finishing the term of an elected official was on "obligation" on his part.

Speaking in a press conference at the Quezon City Reception House, Robredo highlighted the importance of studying first if the country really needed a shift in the form of government, just a day after President Rodrigo Duterte's consultative committee handed him a copy of its proposed federal government constitution.

"First, we should ask: Do we need it?," Robredo asked in Filipino.

"The reason why I'm saying that it's not the right time is because we are surrounded by many problems," the vice president added, pointing to current issues on rising prices of basic goods and services.

Robredo also wondered if federalism was really the answer to issues facing the nation and if amendments to the current 1987 Constitution were not enough to address these.

On Wednesday, Duterte's 22-member consultative committee handed him a copy of its proposed federal government constitution which its chairman, former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, said would be strong enough to hold the suggested federated states together.

Puno said that the draft charter banned political dynasties and monopolies in the country's economy.

It also recognized the right of Filipinos to food, health care, shelter and jobs, according to the country's former chief magistrate.

The charter also contained provisions strengthening institutions that fight corruption such as the Office of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit, he said.

Last week, a member of the panel, Julio Teehankee, backtracked on his statement that Duterte and Robredo could seek fresh terms under the new Constitution.

When asked if she was going to run under the new Constitution, the vice president said: "We have not reached that point yet because our basic question has not been answered: Why should replace [the form of government]?"

She also stressed that elected officials should finish their terms as this was their obligation when people trusted them with their votes.

"It (finishing our terms) is our obligation, not just a privilege. The obligation is part of the privilege. You cannot just say in the middle of the gam, 'I give up. I'm already tired. It's now your turn,'" she said.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Wednesday that Duterte would not want to lead the transition government under the proposed Constitution because he was already "tired."

Roque said that Duterte wanted the consultative committee to insert a provision on the election of the transitional government instead.

The vice president also questioned the lack of debate on the merits of federalism on the consultative committee, whose members she said were in favor of it.

She said that individuals with other opinions should have been appointed on the committee to ensure a free debate on the right form for our government.

"It seems that there were no debates because it seemsm all its members are advocates," she said.