ILOCOS NORTE – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday vowed to study the proposals calling for the autonomy of the Cordillera region.
In an ambush interview in Apayao province, Marcos was asked if he would declare as urgent the proposed measure seeking the autonomy of Cordillera region.
”There is a constitutional question in this. Because the 1987 Constitution allows the creation of two autonomous region, the autonomous region… Kaya nabuhay ang ARMM noon na naging BARMM, ‘yung Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Tapos dapat dito rin,” Marcos said.
(That’s why the ARMM was created and later became the BARMM, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. It should be here too.)
”Ngunit hindi nakuha ang sapat na boto para dito. Ngayon, ang legal question is kung pwede bang balikan o sinabi ba ng Constitution, minsanan lang ‘yan. So titingnan natin, pag-aaralan natin nang mabuti,” he added.
(But it didn’t get enough votes. Now, the legal question is whether it is possible to go back or did the Constitution say, that’s just one time. So we will look into it and study it carefully.)
Local leaders had asked for the President’s support for the passage of the bill pushing for regional autonomy.
The Presidential Communications Office said residents in Cordillera are pushing for autonomy in the region. House Bill 3267, which calls for such autonomy, is currently pending in Congress.
The proponents of the proposed measure said greater autonomy would improve development in Cordillera.
They urged Marcos to certify the bill as urgent, according to the PCO. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
Be the first to comment