MANILA - A federal system of government will be anti-poor because it will burden the people with double taxation, one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution said Monday.

The federal state can impose taxes that are different from those by the federal government, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide told ANC's Headstart.

"People will be tortured with various problems, as a matter of fact, on the issue of taxation alone. Federalism is anti-poor," he said.

The two taxes are necessary under the federal setup to maintain the state and contribute to the central government, said Davide.

"Totally unavoidable. There will always be at least 2 kinds of taxes," he said.

In a Senate hearing earlier this month, Davide opposed revisions to the 1987 Charter, saying it was the best in the world because "it contains sufficient provisions against abuse of power and guarantees people's participation in governance including the use of people power."

• Federalism a 'leap to hell', 1987 Constitution 'best in the world', says Davide