Calls for RevGov by pro-Duterte group is not inciting to sedition — DILG exec

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Department of Interior and Local Government on Tuesday defended a pro-Duterte group’s call for a revolutionary government, saying such calls may not be construed as inciting to sedition because its proponents are just “freely expressing themselves.”

“It (RevGov) is very different. Inciting to sedition is, first, the key terms there it must be done with force and intimidation and sedition is to really block the government of executing laws and their major functions that is the definition of sedition,” DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing told ANC when sought for comment about the difference between inciting to sedition and pushing for revolutionary government.

“It is far away from the definition of pushing for a RevGov because they are just freely expressing themselves. There is no force and intimidation. They are not stopping government function but simply transform to a new system,” he added.

Nonetheless, Densing said calling for a RevGov is “untimely” as the government must focus in addressing the coronavirus disease pandemic, which infected more than 190,000 people nationwide.

“In my opinion, the call for RevGov at this point in time is very untimely. All of us in government are focusing our attention in addressing the COVID-19 and we are one in the statement of (presidential) spokesperson Harry Roque that we recognize the opinion of this people but I think it is untimely,” the DILG official, who also supported a revolutionary government in 2017, said.

Some 300 people led by pro-Duterte group leaders Bobby Brillante and Arlene Buan, trooped to Clark Freeport in Pampanga to call for a revolutionary government under President Rodrigo Duterte.

Senator Joel Villanueva called the move illegal, saying the proponents should be criminally charged for inciting to sedition.

EDV