LEYTE Representative-
elect Ferdinand Martin
Rornualdez has reaf-
firmed his commitment
to supporting federal-
tsm.
The shift to a federal
government is one of the
agenda of President Rod-
dgo Dutede.
' Romualdez under-
scored the need to
advance constifu tionahe-
forns ringthe nertCon-
du
gre55 in order to sustain
the counfry's economic
growth.
Romiraldez, a lawver'
and president oI the Pfi -
ippine Constitution Asso-
ciation (Philconsa),
stressed that the incomins
House leadership mus'i
. continue to suppott Pres-
ident Dutete's efforts to
amend the Constitution.
He said the push for
Charter change (Cha-cha)
should be on the list of
priorities of national lead-
ers as this would comole-
ment the Duterbe ad*in-
istration's initiatives to
accelerate economic
gowth.
By Jester
P.
Manalastas
"We will keep oul ded-
icatio4 coEmittnent, pas-
sion and tlrc flameburning
in pursuing federalism
ultil we reap the real ben-
efits of genuine constitu-
tional reforms for our chil-
dren and the succeeding
generatibrs,"Romualdez,
one of the lrontrume$ in
the Speake6hip race, said.
"I urge my colleagues
and the Ffipino people to
stand behind President
Duterte arrd help push a
federal Constitution to cre-
ate opportunities and for
strongeconomic glow th to
be felt also by ordinary
people," he added.
-Romualdez is the cur-
lent president of the La-
kas-Christian Muslim
Democrats (CMD).
-
"The federalism advo-
cacy of Presideni Duterte
is a golden opporturrity io
udock the doprs ofpeace,
progressandirosperityof
the counky and the peo-
ple," he also said.
Last December, the
House oJ Representatives
voted 224 aiainst 22with
th-ree abstentions approv-
ing on third and final read-
ing its version of a federal
Constitution under Reso-
Iution of Both Houses No.
15, of which Speakel GIo-
ria Macapagal-Arro:yo is
one of the Drincioal 'au-
t
thors.
Romualdez, alstr te-
newedPhilcorua'scommit
mentto defend andproiect
the 1987 Constitution.
He pointed out that the
Constitution serves as a
"Bible of good gover,
nance" and "beacon of
light" inensuringthecoun-
try's political and econom-
i. stahilitv
"Let 6 join hands to
maintain the pristine su-
premacy of the Constitu-
tion," he said.
Romualdez said
Philconsa;theoldestasso-
ciation of legal luminaries
in the counkv which has
been existing lor almost 58
years, remains strongly
supporLive of President
Duterte's federalism ini-
tiative. Pag c ?,. ]