Duterte revolutionary gov’t threat meant to divert public attention

President Rodrigo Duterte's threat to establish a revolutionary government is meant to "divert the attention" of the public and "escape accountability" from the allegations against him.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Sunday said: "I firmly believe that Duterte's latest threat ... is not only meant to intimidate those opposing his administration, but also to divert the attention from the various controversies in which his family is involved. It is also his only way to escape accountability for his crimes  by perpetuating himself in power."  

"If ever, Duterte declares a revolutionary government, only then would we know if the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) leadership would follow him," he added.

He also said that declaring a revolutionary government would be unconstitutional.

Duterte on Friday said that he would declare a revolutionary government if destabilization moves by his critics, particularly the Left, would continue and start slipping into chaos.

"'Pag ang destabilization ninyo patagilid na at medyo magulo na, I will not hesitate to declare a revolutionary government until the end of my term," Duterte said in a report on state-run PTV News.

"I will arrest all of you and we can go to a full-scale war against the Reds," he added.

Before he was elected, Duterte already had planned to set up a revolutionary government, saying the current Constitution could no longer address many of the problems besetting the country.

He once again floated the idea in August, saying that it would bring change to the country but it will not be put up during his term.

But Trillanes insisted that the threat is only a ploy Duterte is using to escape from issues being hurled against him. 

Overall Deputy Ombudsman Arthur Carandang had said that the Office of the Ombudsman has started its probe on the alleged multi-billion-peso hidden wealth of Duterte and his family after the anti-graft body found "sufficient basis" on the complaint of Trillanes. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/LBG, GMA News