21 November – “A lethal experiment, a fatal leap, a plunge to death, a leap to hell,” this was how former Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide Jr. refers to the move to shift to a federal form of government.
18 November 2017 – As all leaders’ summits go, a declaration caps the meeting often with promises to get the job done better. Our recently concluded Asean Leaders Summit was no different as the declaration concluded by saying, “We look to the next 50 years and beyond, confident in our ability to build on our past achievements and address future challenges effectively as one Asean Community.”
I don’t think there is any doubt that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has in some ways and forms actually promoted regional cooperation and contributed toward regional peace, progress and prosperity, as aspired for by the 1967 Bangkok Declaration that launched this regional community. Over the past 50 years, the very fact that the community has continued to aspire together and even expanded in number is proof that Bangkok was not a wasted initiative. Today, Asean already has “Asean-plus” trade agreements with China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand that facilitate trade beyond the region.
FORMER Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr. assailed attempts to shift to a federal form of government in a speech on Tuesday, Nov. 21, to the Makati Business Club (MBC), Management Association of the Philippines, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines and Employers Confederation of the Philippines.
Mr. Davide said the reason given by supporters of federalism — that the current highly centralized government enriches Manila at the expense of the countryside — is “deceptively misleading and unfounded.”
“All such goals and objectives can adequately and sufficiently be accomplished by merely, but effectively and efficiently implementing the relevant provisions of our present 1987 Constitution for strong local autonomy and decentralization,” Mr. Davide said in his speech, as quoted by the MBC in a statement on Tuesday.
On the other hand, Mr. Davide enumerated 18 ill effects of a shift to federalism. He said these could be irreversible.
“A shift to federalism is a lethal experiment. A fatal leap. A plunge to death. A leap to hell,” the retired chief justice said. “To paraphrase the book of Sirach concerning sin, federalism is “a two-edged sword: when it cuts, there can be no healing.”
The Makati Business Club applauds President Rodrigo Duterte, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces Chief General Leonardo Guerrero for their most recent statements, putting an end to speculation about a shift to revolutionary government.
IDAR Research Report: Study on New Generation Trade Agreements and Philippine Agriculture