MARAWI CITY – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, of Davao City, said he wants federalism so badly that he wants to see it in place before he dies.
“I would be happy to die kung makita ko ang federalism sa Pilipinas,” Duterte declared during the federalism forum at the GMA gym at the Terminal Complex on Tuesday.
Duterte spoke for 40 minutes on his favorite advocacy before a captive audience that included a cross section of Marawi’s predominantly Moslem populace. The mayor, who was introduced as “an authentic leader from Mindanao”, headed straight into the venue without taking lunch.
He was welcomed with a standing ovation by his audience that was “more than 50 percent women” as pointed out by a lady reactor. Duterte pointed out that the fate of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) hangs in the balance after the Mamasapano debacle.
He noted both that Pres. Benigno Aquino III and Presidential Adviser on Peace Process had warned of violence if BBL fails. The mayor, however, revealed that he has reached out to Muslim leaders in a last-ditch effort to avert violence.
“I told Nur (Misuari, who was former ARMM governor) hu wag muna (not yet),” referring to reports of a possible outbreak if the BBL collapses.
Misuari, the founding chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front, is at-large after the infamous 2013 Zamboanga siege.
At the same time, Duterte said he wants to talk things over with Murad Ebrahim, chieftain of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which signed the peace agreement with the government after the BBL was drafted.
“It is my dream to see peace in Mindanao,” the mayor stressed, drawing applause from his audience who live in the island most threatened by hostilities.
The mayor said he cannot understand why a government will declare war against its own people. During the open forum, Duterte again deflected questions on what it will take for him to run for president.
“Sa (Department of Interior and Local Government) lang ako kung (ex-Cong. Benasing) Macarambon becomes president,” he said in jest.
Macarambon, Duterte’s contemporary in the only term he served as congressman, introduced the mayor during the forum. Pressed repeatedly by the different reactors, Duterte eventually relented saying it was not time to talk about running for president.
Duterte reiterated what he said in previous forums that he will declare a revolutionary government “within six months or one year” if he does not get the reforms that he wants.
“If you don’t want to declare it, I will be the one to declare it,” he vowed, drawing another round of applause.
The declared “son of Mindanao” is no longer as adamant about the draft that has started to gain ground even in other regions. Duterte makes light of recent surveys showing him in third place but he no longer dismisses the emerging movement.
“Si (Cong.) Macarambon na ang magdesisyon nyan (Macarambon will be the one to decide on that),” the mayor remarked light-heatedly.
The people laughed and cheered heartily because it sounded like music to their ears.
Earlier, Macarambon had pushed for Duterte as the next president of the country and the first from Mindanao. (Jerry Dureza)
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