PRESIDENT Duterte has disowned the group composed of administration allies pushing for the declaration of a revolutionary government (RevGov) to speed up proposed amendments to the Constitution and the shift to a federal form of government.
The President, in an address recorded Monday evening but aired only yesterday, said: “May naglalabas, revolutionary government. Tapos ako ang sinasabi na… wala akong pakialam diyan, wala akong kilala sa mga tao na iyan at hindi ko iyan trabaho (Someone came out with this revolutionary government. They are pointing at me. I have nothing to do with them. I do not know the people involved in that and that is not my job).”
The People’s National Coalition for Revolutionary Government and Charter Change (PNCRGCC) over the weekend gathered at the Clark Freeport in Pampanga and pushed for the establishment of a revolutionary government, which the group wanted Duterte to head.
The group’s national president is Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones.
PNP PROBE
PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa directed the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) to investigate the people behind the call for the establishment of a revolutionary government.
Gamboa said the investigation may lead to the filing of charges and arrest of members of the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC), the core unit of the PNCRGCC.
“I have directed the CIDG to investigate the individuals behind it and to determine if there is any basis to file criminal charges leading to a possible arrest,” Gamboa said in a statement on Tuesday night.
“Political stunts such as this are ill-timed considering that we in the midst of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic,” added Gamboa.
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said the PNP is “closely monitoring the proponents behind the so-called revolutionary government.”
On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said leaders of the MRRD-NECC should be investigated. He said what the group is pushing is “illegal and unconstitutional.”
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the Department of Justice (DOJ) will “seriously investigate” any complaint for inciting to sedition that will be filed against proponents of the RevGov, as he said that impatience over the pace of reforms in the country is not enough reason to push for the advocacy.
“Given the objective of setting aside and disregarding the present Constitution to promulgate a new one under the auspices of a so-called revolutionary government, I certainly do not agree with, much less share such calls, in my capacity as a lawyer, as justice secretary, and as an ordinary Filipino citizen,” Guevarra said.
“Insofar as these calls suggests tearing down existing political institutions and lead to social disorder, any complaint for inciting to sedition will be seriously investigated by the DOJ,” he added.
Former Elections chairman Christian Monsod has said that proponents of the RevGov should be investigated and charged with inciting to sedition.
CEASE AND DESIST
Senate president pro tempore Ralph Recto said since the President has distanced himself from the effort, organizers of the revolutionary government movement should now “cease and desist.”
“The call of the hour is not for RevGov, but government to rev up its response to the pandemic. A RevGov is not a vaccine against the virus. But a revved up government is what we need to fight the pandemic. Stick to the Constitution. It may have some bad components, but it remains the best app for the rule of law,” Recto said.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said shifting the government to a RevGov would create economic instability which “will prompt a massive fiscal deficit in our budgeting system.”
He warned this would push the country on the brink of collapse.
Sen. Nancy Binay said the proponents of the RevGov should just re-focus and instead just help the government’s contact tracing efforts, and carry out a comprehensive information campaign on health protocols that would help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Baka puede tumulong na lang sila sa contact tracing o pagpapatayo ng quarantine centers (Maybe they can just help in contact tracing or establishment of quarantine facilities),” Binay added. — With Victor Reyes, Ashzel Hachero and Raymond Africa
