Malacañang shies away from supporters’ push for revolutionary government

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)