On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte claimed that national hero Dr. Jose Rizal and other heroes of the Philippine Revolution advocated for a federal form of Philippine government like him.
"Actually, it is only not me, but every great mind of this country, were really for or are for our federalism," explained Duterte during the swearing-in of the officers for the People's National Movement for Federalism (PENAMFED) at Malacañang.
"Tayo ‘yung surrogate, a lackey of the Spaniards at that time. And sila Rizal, alam nila that they had to stop this kind of line of authority. There was no freedom at all except coming from one person," he added.
Duterte also revealed that Emilio Aguinaldo, the first President of the Philippines, was also a federalist.
"It’s about time that we take a deep look at federalism. Iyan nga ang gusto ni Rizal eh. Akala ko ba naniniwala tayo kay Rizal? He’s the foremost hero and everybody else and even Aguinaldo at one time he said that this country has to change into something like empowerment of the other places of the Philippines, otherwise we would not be able to control it," the president said.