Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LYN RILLON
Another Cabinet official has expressed doubts the Philippines is ready for federal form of government because everything still confuses him.
In an interview with the media in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Thursday afternoon, Secretary Delfin Lorenzana of the Department of National Defense (DND) shared his observation with reporters, saying the Philippines is 鈥渘ot yet鈥� ready for the change in government system.
鈥淪o many don鈥檛 understand it yet. It鈥檚 confusing,鈥� Lorenzana said in Tagalog, when asked for his opinion on the shift to federalism.
Lorenzana鈥檚 statement follows apprehensions expressed by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and National Economic Development Authority chief Ernesto Pernia in a Senate committee hearing that the federalism shift can prove to be a 鈥渇iscal nightmare.鈥�
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Lorenzana admitted that he himself was still confused about how federal leadership would be implemented.
鈥淲e still need a little more education, more information,鈥� Lorenzana said.
Lorenzana, however, clarified that the military had no official position on federalism.
鈥淲e haven鈥檛 conducted a survey on our troops, but the military will support whatever the Congress will pass, as long as it has been deliberated on,鈥� he added.
Meanwhile, asked about the controversial video by sexy dancer-turned-Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson poking fun at the word federalism, Lorenzana quipped: 鈥淚n a way, Mocha was successful in raising the awareness of the people.鈥� /jpv