EDITORIAL

It was an activity that was supposed to gather millions of Duterte administration supporters nationwide, enough to prod President Rodrigo Duterte to finally declare the much-talkedabout revolutionary government (RevGov). But while crowds did gather in Mendiola in Manila and in Davao City, pro-RevGov rallies were virtually non-existent everywhere else on D-Day (Duterte day) on Nov. 30.

One can attribute this to the president’s lack of open support. Days before Thursday, he has said he won’t declare a RevGov. That must have weakened the resolve of the DDS (diehard Duterte supporters) and the traditional “hakot crowd” gatherers, the pro-administration local government unit executives. And without an organized backbone, the activity fizzled out.

Or perhaps the RevGov proposal just couldn’t get the support of the majority of the Filipinos who are presumably still for the rule of law and the Constitution. That would even include pro-Duterte politicians and many of his non-fanatical followers. Activities that do not get popular support more often than not could not muster decent enough crowds.

After all, the proposal for the president to declare a RevGov defies reason. How can a government that is traditionally the object of a revolution declare itself a revolutionary government without winning a revolution? Or why can’t the RevGov proponents just be forthright about it and say that what they actually want is for the president to seize absolute power like what Ferdinand Marcos did when he declared martial law in 1972?

But it is doubtful if the RevGov idea would be trashed after this. The president himself is enamored with the idea under the right circumstances, which is when anti-government forces strengthen and shake the foundation of his rule. It will also remain as long as the president maintains his popularity among a big chunk of the populace—and also gets the support of the military and the police.

Those opposed to the move may, therefore, have to continue to be vigilant.