The National Democratic Front has offered to "co-found" a shift to a federal system with the government, communist leader Jose Maria Sison said Tuesday.

"The NDF, in the first place, has volunteered, has offered to go along with the Duterte government in pushing for a federal system of government," Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, told ANC.

"It has offered to co-found the Federal Republic of the Philippines and to undertake Constitutional changes or amendments that need to be done."

President Rodrigo Duterte has pushed for a federal form of government to devolve power to long-neglected poor provinces and spread wealth more evenly.

• Duterte wants move to shift to federal to start this year

He has signed an Executive Order creating a team that will study proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution and pave the way for federalism.

Sison said the NDF may send representatives to the Constitutional Commission (Con-Com) if its ongoing peace talks with the government run well.

ANC, 18 July 2017

• Why federalism is 'worth a try'