Enrile: Federalism will cause too much bureaucracy, taxes

Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Friday said Filipinos will suffer from too much bureaucracy and added taxes once the government shifts to a federal form.

“You duplicate the bureaucracy of the national government to the federal level. It will burden the people too much with taxes,” Enrile told reporters before attending the pre-trial of his plunder case at the Sandiganbayan.

Enrile claimed the draft federal charter submitted by the Consultative Committee that was later approved by President Rodrigo Duterte is too big of a government.

He also questioned if the Philippine economy can shoulder the expenses needed to sustain federalism.

“The proposal embodied in the proposed constitution that they have submitted by this group of people to the President, so far calls for a very huge bureaucracy,” Enrile said.

“I agree with the concept but I have some misgivings about the capability of the country to support it financially. It will burden the people too much with taxes, and the economy i don’t think it can shoulder the cost of this huge government that is being proposed,” he added.

Satisfied with Duterte performance

Meanwhile, Enrile said he is satisfied of Duterte’s performance particularly in the areas of diplomacy, counter-terrorism, and peace negotiations with communist rebels.

Enrile said the track of Duterte in favor of China is understandable considering its near location to the Philippines compared to the United States.

Enforcing the Philippines’ win in the Permanent Court of Administration would also irritate the improved ties with China, according to Enrile.

“What can the Philippines do? Shout? We will only cause irritation. The more irritation you cause on the other side, the greater the distance you will inflict on that party,” the former lawmaker said.

Enrile, however, said he disagrees with Duterte’s God comments, comparing his belief to air that exists even if it’s invisible to the naked eye.

“I differ with him on the problem of God, but I agree with him that you cannot really see or feel or hear God. It is like air. You cannot see it, but it exists,” Enrile said.

The Sandiganbayan has reset the start of the plunder trial of Enrile to August 31. He is accused of pocketing P172.8 million worth of from 2004 to 2010 by supposedly channeling these to bogus foundations of Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the pork barrel scam. — RSJ, GMA News