Roque: No legal basis for RevGov

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (Photo by JOAN BONDOC / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Malacañang on Monday said that there was no “factual or legal basis” for President Duterte to declare a revolutionary government (RevGov) even as his supporters across the country planned to gather on Thursday to urge him to do so.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the administration saw no credible or imminent threat that would convince the President to declare a revolutionary government.

“We appreciate the calls of the President’s supporters for RevGov but I think there’s no factual or legal basis as of now, because the President has said he would consider a revolutionary government if destabilizers would persist in their plan to have him removed from office,” Roque said at a press briefing in Mindanao.

“Now, I stress we don’t see any threat, any such threat in the near future,” he added.

Duly elected

Roque noted that the President enjoyed an approval rating of 80 percent in recent surveys.

“He was duly elected. He had a margin of 5 million from the second highest candidate. So, he is de jure. He is constitutional. He enjoys tremendous public support and the support of Congress,” Roque added.

A Catholic prelate, however, cautioned that talk of a revolutionary government might be worrisome for the public since it would be against the Constitution.

Broderick Pabillo, Manila auxiliary bishop, stressed that the government was tasked to promote and protect the Constitution, and that a revolutionary government was outside of it.

‘Disturbing’

“The revolutionary government is disturbing … So if they opt for it, it is unconstitutional. It is against the law, therefore they go beyond their mandate,” the prelate said.

Pabillo added: “This talk is wrong because this is destabilizing, it is very worrying for people to entertain that idea.”

He maintained that the Filipino people would not be obliged to follow what was wrong.

“They are elected within the Constitution, to uphold the Constitution and to work within. If they work outside of it, it is wrong,” the prelate said.

Pabillo maintained that to resort to extraconstitutional means would be wrong and immoral.

“Everybody, including the military, should not follow them because we have to protect the Constitution. This is extraconstitutional, therefore it’s wrong,” he said.

Checks and balances

The bishop pointed out that having the voice of the opposition was part of the checks and balances in a democracy that a leader should welcome.

“There should be an opposition. If he can’t live with that, he is not fit to rule,” Pabillo said.

Last month, Mr. Duterte threatened to form a revolutionary government if opposition groups, whom he accused of trying to destabilize his administration, turned violent and sowed chaos in the streets.

‘Don’t mind that’

Mr. Duterte claimed then that communist groups and the allies of the opposition Liberal Party were out to topple him from power.

On Nov. 9, however, he acknowledged that Vice President Leni Robredo was “correct” in saying that the military would not support a revolutionary government.

Last week, the President told soldiers in Taguig City to ignore talks of coup d’etats or a revolutionary government.

“Don’t mind that. That is far off. Me? I build a nation. If the Armed Forces cooperates with me, if this is something there is good in it, fine. We can work together,” Mr. Duterte said.

The President said he would have communist insurgents arrested if there was evidence showing that they were part of the conspiracy to oust him.

“I will not declare martial law. I will not declare a revolutionary government. I will just go out and arrest them,” he said.

Roque said the President was on top of the situation and that Mr. Duterte even expected his popularity to improve.