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Marcos: Call for a separate Mindanao 'doomed to fail'

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Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/20240128-bagong-pilipinas-rally-MD-22.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. delivers his speech during the Bagong Pilipinas Kick-Off Rally in Manila on January 28, 2024. The rally is said to be a “call to action” for Filipinos to participate in the government’s efforts to improve the country. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></p><p>MANILA -- President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Thursday vowed to defend the Constitution as he appealed to those calling for a separate Mindanao to stop their cause, which he said will not prosper.</p><p>Marcos made the statement in front of constitutionalists during the &quot;Constitution Day&quot; event of the Philippine Constitution Association and the Manila Overseas Press Club in Makati City, in celebration of the 37th anniversary of the 1987 Constitution.</p><p>&quot;The new call for a separate Mindanao is doomed to fail for it is anchored on a false premise, not to mention a sheer Constitutional travesty,&quot; Marcos Jr. said.</p><p>The president made the statement in front of Philconsa Chairperson and former Chief Justice Reynato Puno and Philconsa President and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.</p><p>Last week, former President Rodrigo Duterte led the call for the secession of Mindanao, as he registered his opposition to the people’s initiative to amend the Constitution.</p><p>Duterte had announced that he instructed Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez to start soliciting signatures for that purpose. The former president&#x27;s plan was criticized by lawmakers and legal experts, as well as the interim government of the Bangsamoro region.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/3/analyst-dismayed-over-duterte-s-call-for-mindanao-secession-1700">Analyst dismayed over Duterte&#x27;s call for Mindanao secession</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/1/31/legal-experts-reject-duterte-s-call-for-secession-of-mindanao-043">Legal experts reject Duterte&#x27;s call for secession of Mindanao</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/1/31/senators-frown-at-duterte-s-plan-to-secede-mindanao-from-ph-1312">Senators frown at Duterte&#x27;s &#x27;plan&#x27; to &#x27;secede&#x27; Mindanao from PH</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/1/bangsamoro-government-rejects-duterte-s-mindanao-republic-proposal-331">Bangsamoro government rejects Duterte&#x27;s &#x27;Mindanao republic&#x27; proposal</a></div><p>&quot;I strongly appeal to all concerned to stop this call for a separate Mindanao,&quot; Marcos Jr. said.</p><p>Earlier on Thursday, Marcos Jr. appealed for unity “under one nation” during the the 17th meeting of the National Government- Bangsamoro Government Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB).</p><p>Without mentioning Duterte or his idea of Mindanao&#x27;s secession, Marcos Jr. said: &quot;I would even venture to say that Bagong Pilipinas is incomplete without a Bangsamoro rising along and within it... A stronger BARMM means a stronger Mindanao. A stronger Mindanao means a stronger Philippines, bringing us closer to achieving our agendas.&quot;</p><p>The president also said that he is open to amending the 1987 Constitution -- but only on its economic provisions.</p><p>&quot;This administration&#x27;s position in introducing reforms extends to economic matters alone,&quot; Marcos Jr. stressed.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/8/marcos-seeks-unity-under-one-nation-wants-stronger-mindanao-1741">Marcos seeks unity &#x27;under one nation&#x27;, wants &#x27;stronger Mindanao&#x27;</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/2/peace-adviser-calls-out-duterte-push-to-separate-mindanao-1253">Peace adviser calls out Duterte push to separate Mindanao from PH</a></div><p>RELATED VIDEO</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DbSEIKD_LvY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span> </div><div><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Thursday vowed to defend the Constitution as he appealed to those calling for a separate Mindanao to stop their cause.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Thursday vowed to defend the Constitution as he appealed to those calling for a separate Mindanao to stop their cause.