Palace: ‘Move on’ from revolutionary govt
MALACAÑANG called on both the opposition and supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday to “move on” from the issue of a “revolutionary government” and to stop “making a big deal out of it.”
“There is no need for a revolutionary government, and, in fact… it’s the last issue that the opposition can use against the President. So it’s actually a combination of some supporters of the President and the opposition making a big deal out of this revolutionary government,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque told reporters in a phone patch interview yesterday.
Roque said that contrary to fears raised by the opposition, Duterte did not declare a revolutionary government to mark the 154th birth anniversary of national hero Andres Bonifacio.
“For the opposition, wala na ba kayong isyu pagdating dito sa revolutionary government dahil di umano at ayon sa kanila, ngayong araw daw magdedeklara ng revolutionary government. Wala pong revolutionary government,” Roque said.
(For the opposition, don’t you have other issues except for this revolutionary government? Because according to them, today will be the declaration of the revolutionary government. There’s no such thing as revolutionary government.) Roque appealed to the people to another issue. “Tapusin na po natin ang usaping revolutionary government. Move on na po tayo. Sa oposisyon, maghanap na po kayo ng ibang isyu (Let us all end all talk of a revolutionary government. Let’s move on. To the opposition, look for another issue),” he said.
Robredo joins ‘revgov’ bandwagon
Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo was the latest political personality to join the “revgov” bandwagon, as she warned that this was against the Constitution.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Bonifacio Day commemoration in Caloocan City, Robredo said a revolutionary government was against existing laws and that those government - strations in support of one could be held legally liable.
“Nakakabahalaito, kasi... kapag sinabi kasing revolutionary gov
ernment, gusto mong isantabi iyong Konstitusyon. Ito, ano ito, laban ito sa mga existing na batas, kaya na kakabahala na,” she said. ( It’s alarming because... when you say revolutionary government, you want to set the Constitution aside. This is against existing laws so it is alarming.)
Robredo cited reports in her district in Camarines Sur that a - viduals claiming to represent the government were allegedly asking - ister in support of the movement.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has denied that it was sanctioned by the agency.
“If you will recall, iyong DILG na iyong nag-issue ng statement na hindi ito sanctioned ng DILG (If you will recall, the DILG has already issued a statement that it was not sanctioned by the DILG so I hope they’re telling the truth),” Robredo said.
Roque assured Robredo that a revolutionary government would not happen for now, saying that Duterte would only push for it if the Philippines was beyond saving.
“With all due respect to the Vice President, I do not see what is alarming because the President has time and again said that he would only resort to a revolutionary government kapag supposed, ano, kapag lupaypay na ‘ yung gobyerno, ‘pag naghihingalo na ‘yung gobyerno (if the government is weak and dying),” Roque said.
“And of course, hindi naman ganyan ang nangyayari sa gobyerno ngayon (That is not what is happening in the government right now). He is the constitutional president. He won with an overwhelming lead over his rivals, and he enjoys unprecedented popularity,” he added.
Roque said that while it was true that there were some allies of the President who wanted a revolutionary government, Duterte has repeatedly said there was no basis and no need for a revolutionary government for now.
Despite an appeal from the Palace for peaceful rallies, militant groups protesting a revolutionary government tried to get past a police barricade that divided them from supporters in Mendiola, near Malacañang yesterday, according to reports gathered by TheManilaTimes.
Spotted among the militants were former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and Mae Paner aka “Juana Change” while actress Vivian Velez was seen with the pro-Duterte rallyists.