MANILA, Philippines — A group of Duterte supporters has caused a buzz on social media for urging the establishment of a revolutionary government.

The group, Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte – National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC), is pushing for the declaration of a revolutionary government to be led by the president up to the end of his term.

The said group was among those who encouraged then Mayor Duterte to run for president during the 2016 elections. 

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said during Monday’s press briefing that a revolutionary government is not needed at this time and that the Duterte administration’s priority is mitigating the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19.

“Ang presidente po natin ay pinuno ng isang constitutional government at di natin kinakailangan ang revolutionary government sa ngayon (Our president is a leader of a constitutional government and we do not need a revolutionary government at this time),”said Roque.

As for calls to file charges of inciting sedition against the revolutionary government advocates, the Palace said their actions do not exhibit clear and present danger and that they are entitled to express their ideas.

Roque also clarified that Duterte is not abandoning his bid for charter change and shift to federalism, but establishing a revolutionary government is not among his “constitutional options.”

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have expressed unwillingness to support any initiative to establish a revolutionary government.

In a statement, PNP Spokesperson PBGen. Bernard Banac said the entire police force maintains allegiance to the Constitution. 

“The PNP remains true and loyal to the Constitution. We will continue to uphold it and obey legal orders from the duly constituted authorities,” he said.

PNP Chief PGen. Archie Gamboa, meanwhile, said that though he received a text message from MRRD-NECC on August 20 inviting him to a meeting to discuss the matter, he did not receive any physical copy of the invitation.

AFP Spokesperson MGen. Edgard Arevalo, likewise, expressed the same. 

“It’s very clear to every soldier, airman, sailor, and marine that our unequivocal fidelity and unwavering loyalty is to the Constitution and to the flag that represents our people and the state,” he said in a statement. 

Reacting to the issue, Vice President Leni Robredo criticized the idea as ill-timed, given that the country is facing a pandemic.

Political analyst Edna Co of the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration, said the matter is “another uncalled for distraction from our collective efforts to deal and manage the COVID-19 health and economic crisis.”

“Hindi karapat-dapat bigyan ng pansin. Hindi ito ang kailangan ng bayan, (This doesn’t merit our attention. The country doesn’t need this), she said referring to MRRD-NECC’s proposal. MNP (with reports from Rosalie Coz)

A doctor and health reform advocate has recommended the extend the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon due to the continuous rise in confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country.

In an interview in ‘Get it Straight with Daniel Razon’, Special Adviser to the National Action Plan on COVID-19 Chief Implementor Dr. Anthony Leachon said there are several things to consider before lifting the ECQ.

Leachon noted that the government should look into the number of recoveries from the virus, the number of new cases, and the number of deaths to see if there is a considerable drop.

“We must not rush into this. Nagsabi ang World Health Organization (WHO) two weeks ago na the Philippines is not ready for lifting the lockdown,” he said.

Leachon also suggests lifting the ECQ gradually and prioritize areas which have a huge decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases.

Meanwhile, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) still has not announced any official decision on the said recommendation for ECQ extension. AAC (with reports from Dante Amento)

The government is looking for a single facility to house confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients to prevent overcrowding in hospitals.

On Monday (March 16), Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the recommendation will be discussed in a meeting with the members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

“We are recommending that there should be only one place where we can put all those confirmed cases,” he said.

Panelo said this would lessen the risk of occupational transmission of the virus. He said placing patients in one or two facilities may help in controlling the spread of the disease.

“Baka maubusan tayo ng ospital na paglalagayan (We might run out of hospitals for the patients); and not only that, we are exposing our health workers to the same infection,” he said. — AAC