MANILA – Malacañang said Sunday it hopes Congress will give "much weight" to the draft of a new constitution prepared by President Rodrigo Duterte's consultative committee. 

The output of the panel, which the Palace calls a significant step towards realizing Duterte's promise of shifting to a federal form of government, is set to be submitted to Congress on Monday. 

"We're hoping that Congress will give it much weight as it prepares to submit proposed revisions to the Constitution to the people as a constituent assembly," Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement Sunday. 

ConCom approves proposed charter, backs shift to federalism

The consultative committee has yet to release the actual text of the proposed constitution pending submission of the draft to the President. 

But based on previous deliberations and statements, the draft charter retains the president and vice president as heads of government but they will have to be voted in tandem, as part of the same party.

The federal republic will be divided into 18 federated states, represented by 2 senators each if the draft charter will be followed.

Roque earlier said that Duterte, chair of the ruling party PDP-Laban, will also transmit the draft to his partymates and encourage them to study it very closely.

House adopts resolution to convene as con-ass to amend charter
ALAMIN: Pagkakaiba ng con-con at con-ass

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