Palace bucks RevGov, says Duterte won’t stay beyond 2022

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday said it would not support clamors for a revolutionary government, saying President Rodrigo Duterte himself is looking forward to finishing his term in 2022.

“It does not enjoy any support po from the government now. It is a private initiative but the private individuals can express, freely, their views as part of freedom of speech,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing.

Earlier, a group called Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC) launched the movement in support of a revolutionary government led by the Duterte administration which would fast track federalism.

Asked for the President’s take on the matter, Roque maintained that Duterte’s focus is on the ongoing health crisis due to COVID-19.

“Alam niyo po ang Presidente nakatutok naman siya sa COVID-19 responses natin ngayon at paulit-ulit na po niyang sinasabi he’s looking forward to the end of his term and he wants to live a quiet life again,” Roque said.

(The President is focused on our COVID-1 responses and he has repeatedly said that he’s looking forward to the end of his term and he wants to live a quiet life again.)

“Kung kayo po ay nagkakaroon ng agam-agam na he (Duterte) will stay beyond his term, naku, that’s the farthest beyond of the mind of the President, I can assure you that,” he added.

(If you have doubts that he will stay beyond his term, that’s the farthest beyond the mind of the President, I can assure you that.)

Both the Philippine National Police and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also thumbed down the group’s call for a revolutionary government. [ac]