DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/27 November) — There is no legal or factual basis to declare a revolutionary government, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday in the wake of reports that supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte’s are organizing a grand rally at the Davao Crocodile park in this city on Thursday to urge the president to do so.
In a media briefing at the Presidential Guest House on Monday, Roque told reporters that Duterte has made it clear that he will only consider calling for a revolutionary government if there are attempts at destabilization against him
“We appreciate the calls of president’s supporters for revolutionary government but I think there is no factual or legal basis as of now because the president has said he will consider a revolutionary government if destabilizers will persist their plan to have him removed from office,” he said.
Roque said they “don’t see any such threat in the future” against Duterte, as he noted the support to him by Congress and the public who gave him 80-percent approval rating according to a Pulse Asia survey in conducted in September 2017.
“We assure them that the president is on top, he was duly elected and he remains hugely popular. My prediction is his popularity will even go up from the current 80 percent,” he said.
The President’s supporters are mounting the Revolutionary Government Grand Rally from 1p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Davao Crocodile Park to encourage Duterte to declare a revolutionary government.
On November 21, President Rodrigo R. Duterte dismissed the idea of a revolutionary government.
“Ang sabi nilang revolutionary government, coup d’ etat. Huwag ninyong intindihin yan, malayo na iyan (That revolutionary government, coup d’ etat, don’t mind it. That’s impropable),” he said.
However, the president said on November 18 that he will not hesitate to declare a revolutionary government if there is any attempt to “topple” the government.
“Kung tumagilid ang bayan ko and I see revolutionaries bringing firearms on the streets, well, maybe ‘wag ka nang magdalawang-isip (Do no think twice), I will declare a revolutionary government. Ayaw ko ng martial law, maraming restrictions. Todohin ko na lang. Kaya ‘wag mong gawain na (I don’t likemartial law, there’s so many restrictions. —do not do something that will cause or even attempt to topple government, Hindi ako papayag ng ganoon (I will not allow it)” he said. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)