Cayetanoand Federalism is 'ultimate' decentralization

KIDAPAWAN CITY -For Senator and vice-presidential aspirant Peter Alan Cayetano, federalism is the ultimate decentralization. Also, Cayetano said federalism would help address decades-old Mindanao conflict and ‘historical injustices and mistrust’ among the Muslims and Christians, including the indigenous people. But the execution is never easy, according to the Senator. Hindi ito madaling gawin.Even [Davao City Mayor Rodrigo] Duterte admitted that.Despite that, we would still pursue federalism.We just need the support of the people,” said Cayetano during a forum of federalism held recently at the Kidapawan City gymnasium. Cayetano said he believes so much in Duterte’s ideals. Their tandem, he stressed, stands for peace and order, fixing what has been broken in the government, and getting rid of drugs and drug lords Duterte is running as president under the PDP-Laban. Duterte said he can’t promise everything, but he can promise a safe and a comfortable Philippines,” he said. The senator has made himself clear during the forum that he is never an anti-Muslim when he dropped the Bangsamoro Basic law (BBL) at the Senate. I am not anti-Muslim.I live in Taguig where there are many Muslims.They are already integrated and well respected in the community,” he explained. Cayetano was certain the problems faced by the Muslims in Mindanao could not be resolved by the BBL alone. The Mindanao conflict is rooted in four basic problemsand first, historical injustice second, discrimination and third, the lack of opportunities. We can’t correct historical injustice by another historical injustice, and that’s the BBL,” he stressed. For him, federalism is not only an answer to the problems faced by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao but a solution to the rest of the country. Why give autonomy to only one region?Why not give autonomy to all provinces?Duterte’s solutions are to get rid of discrimination and to ensure that everybody gets his fair share. I share this vision.We can do that immediately,” said the senator.