Duterte supporters push RevGov

MENDIOLA RALLY Hundreds of cheering followers of President Duterte appear on Don Chino
Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola Bridge) in Manila to show their support for a revolutionary
government.Malacañang, however, has distanced itself from their cause. —LYN RILLON

President Duterte’s supporters took to the streets on Thursday to push him to carry out his threat to declare a revolutionary government, even as Malacañang called for an end to talk of revolutionary rule.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said there was nothing to be alarmed about because Mr. Duterte had said he would declare a revolutionary government only if the country was on the verge of collapse, and this was not the case now.

The opposition should stop using this issue against the President, Roque said.

“It’s actually a combination of some supporters of the President and the opposition making a big deal out of this revolutionary government,” he told reporters.

False claims

Roque said there was no truth to claims that Mr. Duterte would declare a revolutionary government on Nov. 30.

Mr. Duterte’s supporters marched across Metro Manila and in the provinces on Thursday, the 154th anniversary of the Filipino revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio, to express support for the declaration of a revolutionary government.

Manila police said 3,500 supporters of Mr. Duterte gathered at Don Chino Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola Bridge).

One of the rally organizers, Tony Gonzales, said Mr. Duterte’s supporters wanted to push for a revolutionary government through a people’s initiative because “Congress does not believe in this.”

In Cebu City, 500 supporters of Mr. Duterte gathered at Plaza Independencia to express support for his programs, including a shift to a federal form of government.

In Iloilo City, fractious supporters of Mr. Duterte held separate rallies, but all called for a revolutionary government.

In Bacolod City, 3,000 supporters of Mr. Duterte joined the launching of the revolutionary-federal campaign, or RevGov in Western Visayas, at  Bacolod Pavilion Hotel.

In Mr. Duterte’s hometown, Davao City, his supporters, coming from as far as Zamboanga City, gathered at Crocodile Park. Senior Insp. Ma. Teresita Gaspan, spokesperson for the city police, estimated the crowd at more than 20,000.

“We want to show our support to President Duterte for the government’s help to farmers like me,” said Julie Osin, 36, of Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur province.

Osin and 14 other Duterte supporters left Agusan del Sur in a small truck late on Wednesday amid a drizzle and reached Davao after more than six hours.

Hastening federalism

“I also want to know about [revolutionary government]. If it will help farmers like me, then I will support it,” Osin said.

A group of Duterte supporters who came from Lanao del Sur identified themselves as members of Tapang at Malasakit Alliance for the Philippines (TMAP).

“We need to convince President Duterte to establish a revolutionary government to hasten federalism,” said a member of the group, Rasheed Sangcola.

A leader of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) said his group also wanted Mr. Duterte to declare a revolutionary government.

Rolando Olamit, chair of the MNLF in Davao, said his group believed the declaration was the best and fastest way to a federal form of government.

‘Look for another issue’

“There is no revolutionary government. Let us stop talk of a revolutionary government. Let us move on. To the opposition, look for another issue,” Roque said.

Talk of a revolutionary government escalated after Mr. Duterte himself threatened to put up one if his opponents tried to oust him and criticism of his policies erupted into chaos in the streets.

He has since tried to play down the matter.

In an interview with Assistant Communications Secretary Mocha Uson on Nov. 29, Mr. Duterte said he hoped he would be given no reason to declare a revolutionary government and reiterated that he saw no need to do it now.

He insisted that it was only an option if the ship of state was about to capsize.

“Well, I hope there will never be a time that I will be compelled to call for it. I am a lawyer and we follow the Constitution. Only when the Republic of the Philippines is dying and then maybe, but other than that, there’s no [reason],” Mr. Duterte told Uson when she asked him about the groups holding rallies to back a revolutionary government.

Taken out of context

The President said his call had been taken out of context, and there were those who missed his predicate that he would declare a revolutionary government only if the country was in trouble.

But he added that he would not stop his supporters from expressing support for a revolutionary government.

Mr. Duterte said the people who voted for him were a significant voice and made the call because of the country’s problem with corruption.

But he acknowledged the opposition to the idea, the reason, he said, why there should be a compromise.

This was also why he had called for a new constitution that would clip officials’ powers and make them more accountable, he added.

Roque pointed out Mr. Duterte’s position that he will allow protests and other forms of mass action as long as public safety and convenience are not compromised.

“The President has earlier said that he does not want a revolutionary government. This, however, does not mean he would prevent citizens from expressing their support for a revolutionary government,” he said. —WITH REPORTS FROM AIE BALAGTAS SEE, STEFFI NOLIDO, DORIS MAE MONDRAGON, CARLA P. GOMEZ, NESTOR P. BURGOS AND FRINSTON LIM