MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will not allow its personnel to participate in any movement calling for a revolutionary government, the AFP chief of staff told lawmakers on Wednesday.
Facing a panel of the Commission on Appointments (CA) for his nomination to the rank of General, AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay said that establishing a revolutionary government “will cost more harm than good at this point in time in our country.”
A group called Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC) earlier launched a movement calling for a revolutionary government that will be led by the Duterte administration to fast-track federalism.
“We are entitled individually but as Armed Forces of the Philippines, we will not allow anybody to be part of this movement and to actively participate in the furtherance of the goals and objectives of the group pushing for the establishment of a revolutionary government,” Gapay said.
The AFP chief also reiterated his previous stand on calls for a revolutionary government.
“The [AFP] does not support this movement in calling for a revolutionary government,” he said.
“It is unconstitutional and we find it politically-motivated,” he added.
Malacañang recently said that President Rodrigo Duterte still does not see the need for and that he will only be open to public discourse with sectors who believe it can address their grievances.
In a taped address to the nation Monday night, the chief executive also said the proposed establishment of a revolutionary government should be discussed publicly.
“Sabi ko nga iyong revolutionary government should not be discussed in sub rosa (secrecy). It should be discussed publicly, including the military,” Duterte had said.
(Revolutionary government should not be discussed in secrecy. It should be discussed publicly, including the military.)
“If the troops do not want it, they should say so and explain. Eh kung mayroon rin silang gustong pagbabago, then let us hear them out,” he added.
(If the troops do not want it, they should say so and explain. If they also want something changed, then let’s hear them out.)