PNoy: Too early to say if Cha-cha needed for MILF sub-state proposal

President Benigno Aquino III on Friday refused to say if his administration would be open to amending the 1987 Constitution in order to accommodate the sub-state proposal of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. At a press briefing in Malacañang, Aquino said it would be too early to decide on the matter. "Masyado naman yatang advance. Wala pa ‘yung actual details of the agreement and ‘yung pagkakasunduan ng mga negotiating panel will be brought before all of the stakeholders then that would tell us what is necessary," the President said. On Tuesday, House Deputy Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said creating a state within a state "is not provided for" under the Philippine Charter. "Under our Constitution, there is no such thing as a sub-state. Meron lang ho silang autonomous region that is equivalent to a sub-state. In political law, there is a definition of a state but not of a sub-state," Fariñas said. Just last week, Aquino and MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ibrahim met in Tokyo, Japan to discuss the ongoing peace negotiations. 'All inclusive' In his press conference, Aquino said the peace agreement his administration will be forging with the MILF will be "all inclusive" to prevent breakaway groups. "Sa Bangsamoro, ‘pag hindi all-inclusive ‘yung agreement to include all even those who are non-Muslims, then there would always be a breakaway of factions. So what we’re trying to do is to speak on behalf of the entire Bangsamoro people," he said. He added that at the end of the negotiating process, the panels will present the agreement before all of the stakeholders before presenting it to the country at large. "Para all the immediate stakeholders will be consulted. Without their support, then we cannot achieve the peace that we want," he said. "That is also one of the goals na hindi magkaroon ng breakaway ng breakaway ng breakaway and they are committed that once the agreement is done, they will also join us in ensuring that there is no need for anybody to break away. It will be that comprehensive a peace agreement," he said. The President said the MILF is now handling the problem with Umbra Kato, a former MILF commander. — RSJ/LBG, GMA News