Vice President Leni Robredo raised alarm on Thursday over the participation and support of some government officials to a proposal to place the country under a revolutionary government.
“Alarming iyon kasi gusto mo… parang gusto kang mag-alsa laban sa pamahalaan, na isa ka sa mga kinatawan. Parang very ironic iyong ganoong sitwasyon,” Robredo told reporters during the Bonifacio Day commemoration in Caloocan City.
(Government officials supporting the proposal for a revolutionary government is alarming because it is like you want to revolt against the government you represent. It seems very ironic.)
Robredo said it might be worth looking into if those government officials, who would join demonstrations in support of a revolutionary government, could be held legally liable.
“Kapag sinabi kasing revolutionary government, gusto mong isantabi iyong Konstitusyon. Ito, ano ito, laban ito sa mga existing na batas, kaya nakakabahala,” Robredo explained.
(When you say revolutionary government, you want to set the Constitution aside. This is against existing laws so it is alarming.)
“Iyong tanong nito, iyong mga sasali ba dito may be held legally—‘di ba?—may be held liable? Kasi iyong pag-alsa laban sa Konstitusyon, pag-alsa iyon laban sa pamahalaan,” she added.
(The question here is, are those joining the rally may be held legally liable? Because revolting against the Constitution is revolting against the government.)
Robredo also confirmed she had heard rumors that there were groups urging village officials to back the proposed revolutionary government, promising them that they will be the ones installed as leaders once the plan pushes through.
The vice president said there were reports in her district in Camarines Sur that a retired military officer and individuals claiming to represent the government were allegedly asking barangay officials to register in support of the movement.
But the vice president said the Department of the Interior and Local Government already denied it was sanctioned by the agency.
“If you will recall, iyong DILG na iyong nag-issue ng statement na hindi ito sanctioned ng DILG, so I hope nagsasabi sila ng totoo,” she said.
(If you will recall, the DILG has already issued a statement that it was not sanctioned by the DILG so I hope they’re telling the truth.)
President Rodrigo Duterte has turned down calls to declare a revolutionary government even though it was him who actually floated the idea in October.
Robredo said she was holding on to Duterte’s pronouncement, especially that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has already debunked rumors that there is a destabilization plot against the administration.
“Tingin ko napakahalaga ng statement niyang iyon, kasi dapat it will put to rest iyong lahat na mga haka-haka na baka ito, baka mag-declare. Kapag si Pangulo na mismo iyong nagsabi na hindi magde-declare, iyon iyong panghahawakan natin,” she said.
(I think his statement is very important because it will put to rest all the rumors that he will declare. When the President already said he would not declare a revolutionary government, we would hold on to that promise.) /kga