DUTERTE REJECTS REVOLUTIONARY GOV'T DUE TO LACK OF SUPPORT

DA NANG, Vietnam – President Duterte is no longer inclined to declare a revolutionary government to quell destabilization attempts due to the lack of military support.

The President said he asked the military about the matter and got the same reply given to Vice President Leni Robredo that they were not in favor of a revolutionary government.

“Tama siya. Tinanong ko ang military. Sabi nila, ‘Hindi kami susuporta ng revolutionary government,” Duterte said in a press conference after meeting the Filipino community here last Thursday night.

“Sabi ko, ‘Why?’ Sabi nila, ‘Dahil sabi ni Vice President Robredo.’ ‘O bakit?’ Sabi niya, ‘Mas gusto namin siya. Babae at saka hindi nagmumura,” he added.

Upon hearing the military’s refusal to support a revolutionary government, Duterte said: “O sige. ‘Di hindi tayo mag-revolutionary government.’ Tama, tama siya.”

Robredo had obtained the assurance from defense and military officials that they would not support moves to place the country under a revolutionary government. The Vice President thanked the military, saying the people look to them to defend the country’s democracy.

The President earlier threatened to declare a revolutionary government, as opposed to martial law that requires congressional consent, if the destabilization attempts against his administration send the country into chaos.

In a revolutionary government, Duterte said he would order the arrest of those out to oust him and declare a full-scale war against the communist rebels.

Some groups, however, expressed concern that Duterte was trying to establish a dictatorship through his planned revolutionary government.