By NITZ ARANCON Correspondent FORMER mayor Reuben Canoy has begged off from the proposed Constitutional Commission (Concom) proposed by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, citing his age, and saying he was no expert. Alvarez earlier named Canoy and former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., another ex-mayor of the city, as two of the 20 proposed members of the “Concom.” Canoy and Pimentel are know advocates of federalism. Alvarez said the proposed commission would help members of Congress in making constitutional changes. Canoy said he was not interested in becoming a member of the proposed commission. He said he even sent Alvarez a message to beg off. “Akong giingnan si Speaker Alvarez nga dili man ako expert ug mas maayo na lang nga ang ihatag na lang sa mga eksperto ang puwesto nga iyang gitaganan alang kanako,” he said. Canoy said another factor was his age. His daughter Rhona said the former mayor is already 87 years old. Canoy said he would rather help the Duterte administration in other ways in its effort to change the form of government by way of constitutional change. “I am in favor of a federal system of government. Andam ako sa pagtabang  sa Duterte administration  sa pagpasabot sa katawhan unsa kining federalism,” said Canoy, pointing out that he has been doing that for years through his radio program “Perspective.” The pronouncements came even after Pimentel said Canoy would be able to contribute much in Alvarez’s proposed commission because of his experience in governance. “Reuben would be a great contribution to the effort with his experience in local  governance, in the central  government,  and in the Batasang Pambansa,” said Pimentel. Pimentel said Canoy would be a “tremendous asset” in the endeavor. “Bahala na sila kung gusto nila iapil ako. I’ll help in whatever way I can,” said Pimentel. “I can suggest  what residual powers may be retained by the national government  and what power may be evolved to the federal states and to their  LGUs. Also, how the federal states would be  governed  and what percentage of their incomes would be sent to the national coffers.”