Pass BBL first before shifting to Federal System: Former CJ Davide

“I assert that the shift to federalism or amendments to our Constitution to accomplish the goals and objectives of the proponents of federalism is totally unnecessary,” Davide told business executives at Manila Polo Club in Makati.

The reasons cited to support the move were “deceptively misleading”, Davide said as quoted by PDI.

Davide said that instead of rushing up the shift to federal type of government, the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law be passed first as it contained elements of a federal type of government for Muslim Mindanao.

If the system succeeds in Muslim Mindanao, then the federalization of the rest of the country could follow, he said.

Davide echoed other sectors, legal experts and political pundits’ criticisms of efforts to change the form of government, said the PDI in its report.

“A shift to federalism is a lethal experiment, a fatal leap, a plunge to death, a leap to hell,” the former Chief Justice also said.