Group vows 1 million signatures for revolutionary government

CEBU, Philippines —  A group calling itself as the People’s National Coalition for Revolutionary Government towards Federalism is set to stage a two-day “Araw ng Pagbabago” on Feb. 21-22 to air clamors for a revolutionary government, promising to raise over a million signatures for the cause.

Abner Malabanan, PNC secretary general and spokesperson of Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee, in a press conference yesterday urged the entire nation to join this event that will “show to President Rodrigo Duterte the force of the Filipino people by going out of their respective homes, private and public offices, on the streets that the nation clamors for a revolutionary government.”

“We keep changing our leaders but not our system of government. We have to change our structure kasi dami nang corruption that resulted to poverty. We believe that kapag federalism na tayo, madali na lang mapaparusaban ang mga corrupt,” said former OFW Partylist representative and PNC co-chairman Omar Albano Fajardo.

Fajardo, who is also the vice chairman of MRRD-NECC, said a federal form of government is Duterte’s campaign promise.

During the two-day event, Malabanan said, the group will be presenting over a million signatures by the Filipino people to Duterte.

The PNC’s signature campaign states: “Ako ay naniniwala sa adhikain ng People’s Coalition for Revolutionary Government towards Federalism, kung saan ang lahat ng Region o Federal States ay magkakaroon ng kanya-kanyang pagkakataong umunlad dulot ng makatarungang pagbabahagi ng salapi at yaman ng bansa na nagbubunga ng mabilis na daloy ng sapat na serbisyo at benepisyo para sa mamamayan. Dahil dito, ako ay kusang loob at taos pusong lumagda bilang patunay sa aking pagsangayon sa isinulong na pagbabago ng Koalisyon.”

“We have more than a million signatures already. We expect more,” said Malabanan.

The PNC, in its Resolution No. 01 series of 2020 dated August 22, 2020, had stated that to finally put to rest the clamor of charter change, a new constitution embodying the genuine hopes and great dreams of the Filipino people must be adopted.

It said that this new constitution should be suitable to their political aspirations and responsive to the needs of time.

“Sa revolutionary government towards federalism, ang taumbayan na mismo ang nagkakaisa para baguhin ang ating Constitution,”said Malabanan.

Malabanan said that the three means to change the Constitution -- constitutional convention, constitutional assembly and People’s Initiative -- take time and resources. — JMD (FREEMAN)