They might really push it hard. A federal government, that is.
With political will, they might be able to. As Speaker Alvarez said, the new constitution to establish that kind of government can be arrived at in a few months and would be presented for the people’s approval simultaneously with the barangay election on May 14 of this year. That would be a real express lane. Sure, a new constitution can be drafted in a day or two or just in a matter of hours. But, will there be no opposition to its adoption?
Of course there will be a lot of opposition but with a strong political will, these can practically be ignored.
When Martial Law was imposed by the late dictator Marcos, everybody assumed that he would not be able to do it. The opposition against him was just too much. Every man on the street seemed to be against Marcos and protests were being done in every street corner for him to step down instead of trying to perpetuate himself in power by declaring Martial Law.
Yes, protests were everywhere then. Yet he surreptitiously signed on Sept. 21, 1972 the declaration of Marial Law. Just before it was announced, everybody who had any political say then was arrested. The noisy senators who were supposed to be big time politicians like the late Ninoy Aquino who appeared very popular to succeed Marcos suddenly found himself helpless in jail along with his big time supporters, mostly members of the Liberal Party.
PDu30 by all appearances is a lot more popular than Marcos in 1972. So what would prevent him from ramming down our throats ‘federalism?’
All the President needs is for the Congress and Senate to go along with his plan. As of now there is no credible opposition in both houses to block the plan.
The scary part is the transition period. There will be no election, the incumbents will stay in power until the next election as might be scheduled. What if during that time, the President will die?
And what kind of constitution will be rammed down our throats? There would be no time to come up with a popular one.**