Thousands rally for and against Duterte’s ‘revolutionary govt’ threat

MANILA: Thousands of supporters and critics of President Rodrigo Duterte staged rallies yesterday for and against his threat to declare a “revolutionary government”, which has fuelled fears of a looming dictatorship.

Duterte warned last month he was prepared to establish a “revolutionary government” to fend off alleged efforts to oust him.

He railed against the press, European lawmakers and other critics of his drug war, which left thousands dead and led rights groups to warn of a crime against humanity.

Duterte, who has courted Beijing while loosening his nation’s alliance with Washington, also alleged the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency was part of a plot to destabilise him, and warned he would jail his opponents and communist leaders.

His critics fear the 72-year-old, who had repeatedly threatened to impose martial law, was intent on dragging the country back into dictatorship and allow himself more freedom in his drug war.

Yesterday, pro-Duterte and anti-Duterte protesters, each rally numbering more than 2,000, gathered in front of the presidential palace here with riot police separating them.

Both groups mostly wore red — the traditional Filipino colour for revolutionary movements.

Supporters waved banners saying “We support revolutionary government”, while the other side carried signs saying “Fight the Duterte dictatorship”.

The pro-Duterte crowd was allowed to stage their rally in peace, but riot police used fire hoses to drive back the anti-Duterte protesters as they tried to move closer to the palace.

The rallies were staged on a holiday honouring the 154th birthday of Filipino revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio.