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Solon asks Duterte, Alvarez: Wasn't Mindanao well represented during your term?

Philippines | National

Solon asks Duterte, Alvarez: Wasn't Mindanao well represented during your term?

By Ellson Quismorio

At A Glance

1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez insists that the Mindanao secession plan is unconstitutional and at the same time poses a key question to its two main proponents, former president Rodrigo Duterte and Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez.

Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, former president Rodrigo Duterte (Facebook, Malacañang photo)

Wasn't Midnanao well represented during your time in power?

1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez asked this question to former president Rodrigo Duterte and Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez amid the latter two's campaign to have! Mindanao separate from the rest of the Philippines.

“Sabi nila, napabayaan daw ang Mindanao (This said Mindanao has been neglected). This is surprising, coming from a former President and former Speaker. Wasn't Mindanao well represented during their terms?” Gutierrez said in a statement Sunday, Feb. 11.

"Why would former President Duterte advocate for the dismemberment of the Republic that he himself led for six years? Huwag naman po tayong watak-watakin bilang isang bansa at mga Pilipino (They shouldn't break us up as a country and as a people).

"We urge the former President and former Speaker to reconsider their stance on the matter," added Gutierrez, a neophyte solon in the 19th Congress.

The lawyer-congressman said the Mindanao secession plan being sought by Duterte and Alvarez is unconstitutional.

"The constitution is clear, Article I provides for our National Territory, we are one archipelago. There is no constitutional provision or any other legal means that would allow for Mindanao to unilaterally secede," explained Gutierrez, a member of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments.

Duterte served as Philippine president from 2016 to 2022. Alvarez was the House Speaker during the first two years of his term.

Related Tags

Pantaleon Alvarez Rodge Gutierrez Mindanao secession Rodrigo Duterte

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