Opposition Rejects Charter Change; All-Out Drive vs Constitutional Revision Readied Federalism Not Answer to Problems in South - Tamano

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Byline: BEN R. ROSARIO

The United Opposition (UNO) has declared an all- out war against any government attempt to revive moves to amend the Constitution even if it would help put an end to the secessionist conflict in Mindanao.

UNO spokesman Adel Tamano aired UNO's stand after Mindanao peace adviser Jesus Dureza underscored the need to revise the 1987 Constitution as part of the government's commitment to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to push for a shift in the form of government to a federal system.

Tamano warned that any bid to amend the Charter will be seen as a step towards term extension by the Arroyo government.

Tamano, a Muslim, told reporters that the shift to federalism should not be seen as a "simple cure-all to the ills of Mindanao."

Dureza disclosed that the MILF's demand for a federal form of government that would give birth to a Bangsa Moro federal state remains the principal stumbling block in the government's push for a final peace agreement with the secessionist group.

A shift to federalism requires an amendment of the Constitution.

The House Committee on Constitutional Revisions has started discussing at least 10 bills on proposed constitutional amendments, either through a Constitutional Convention or a Constituent Assembly.

"I don't think federalism alone can solve the peace problem in …