‘SARILING BANSA’ | Lawmaker affirms Duterte’s plan to separate Mindanao from Philippines

January 31, 2024 , 03:38 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(January 31, 2024) – A lawmaker on Wednesday confirmed an earlier statement from former President Rodrigo Duterte that they are planning to launch a campaign that seeks to separate Mindanao from the Philippines.

Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, a former speaker of the House of Representatives during the first part of Duterte’s term, said they are serious in their vision and this has been part of his advocacy even in the past years.

“Gagawa kami ng sariling bansa,” said Alvarez on Ted Failon and DJ Chacha sa Radyo 5.

According to Alvarez, they will use Singapore as their pattern for the separate country they are planning to create.

“Anong meron sa Singapore? Practically nothing. Walang natural resources, walang agriculture, kahit ‘yung tubig nila, imported galing Malaysia. Pero saan sila? First-world country. Anong meron? Isa lang—good governance,” said Alvarez.

Duterte revealed in a media conference in Davao City that they will launch a signature campaign for Mindanao to secede from the Philippines.

In his recent speeches, Duterte has launched tirades against his successor, President Bongbong Marcos Jr., including calling him a “drug addict.” Duterte openly opposed the ongoing moves to amend the 1987 Constitution through a people’s initiative, as he led an anti-charter change rally in Davao City last Sunday.

Duterte, who had a penchant for making random declarations during his term, previously vouched for charter change during his term in order to shift to a federal system of government. However, his efforts did not succeed.

Now, there are two charter change moves underway—a people’s initiative that seeks a joint congressional vote in a constituent assembly and another that seeks to change three economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution.

Amid all the political developments, Alvarez said they will prioritize the launch of an information drive to ensure that Mindanaoans fully understand what they are pushing for.

“Gagawin natin itong mapayapa. At sana ang ating government naman, kung hindi nila kayang asikasuhin ‘yung napakalaking territory ng Pilipinas, hayaan mo lang kami to chart our own destiny here in Mindanao,” urged Alvarez.

So far, the Malacañang has yet to comment on the plan of Duterte and Alvarez, who recently lambasted House Speaker Martin Romualdez for supposedly leading the current push for a people’s initiative. Romualdez said he was merely a facilitator.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, who’s also from Mindanao, said the last thing they want would be to divide the country.

“Slow down po natin ang away na ‘yun kasi ang importante ay ang kapakanan ng taumbayan. All these fighting between the different groups is not going to be good for the economy, for the country, our children and our children’s children,” said Zubiri.

(PM)

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