Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio speaks at a Hugpong ng Pagbabago sortie. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File
MANILA -- Malacañang said Monday it respects Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio's position on federalism, a key campaign promise of his father, President Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte-Carpio earlier said Mindanao areas held by "warlords" were not yet ready to be given wider powers.
"Lagi kong sinasabi I am not for federalism, but I say decision iyan ng Congress, decision iyan ng president natin," Duterte-Carpio told reporters on the sidelines of Hugpong ng Pagbabago’s campaign sortie in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi last week.
(I always say that I am not for federalism, but that’s up to Congress and the President.)
Asked to comment on Duterte-Carpio's statement, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said: "Everyone has his or her ideas on how to solve certain problems. Mayor Sara has her own concept, and we respect that."
The President had argued that changing the form of government would benefit local government units who have long been relying on the central government for funding.
Panelo said the public would eventually decide the fate of federalism. "We welcome all other contrapositions and we'll let the people decide," he said.