MANILA, Philippines — The government should use its powers to protect the rights of the people instead of curtailing the public’s liberty.
This was the statement of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Saturday after President Rodrigo Duterte warned critics that he would suspend the writ of habeas corpus if he is “pushed to the wall.”
CHR Spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said that criticisms should not be used by the government in threatening to declare a revolutionary government in the country.
“In this case, criticisms, especially if warranted and is viewed for public interest, should not be used as a justification to curtail other rights, lest we spiral into a dictatorship,” de Guia said.
“The task before all freedom-loving Filipinos is vigilance against possible oppressions and abuse of power,” she added.
On Thursday, Duterte issued the warning that he would declare a revolutionary government if his critics would push him to his limits.
READ: Duterte twits Drilon, threatens to suspend writ of habeas corpus
Should Duterte declare a revolutionary government, Vice President Leni Robredo will take over as new president of the republic as mandated under the 1987 Constitution.
“Declaring a revolutionary government would mean that President Duterte becomes the leader of a revolutionary government while Robredo becomes the leader as president of a duly constituted government,” Veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said.
READ: ‘Robredo to become President if Duterte declares revolutionary gov’t’
Despite the threat, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III believes that the threat of Duterte to declare a revolutionary government is just a form of “metaphor.”
READ: Just a ‘metaphor,’ Sotto says of Duterte’s revolutionary war threat
Opposition senators, meanwhile, said that instead of arresting critics, Duterte should come after foreign encroachers and big-time drug lords. /jpv
READ: Opposition senators to Duterte: Arrest encroachers, drug lords, not critics