Senators question motives behind Duterte's revolutionary govt threat

Opposition senators on Sunday questioned the motives behind President Rodrigo Duterte's threat to declare a revolutionary government.

In a statement, Senators Bam Aquino, Francis Pangilinan, and Risa Hontiveros questioned the basis for a revolutionary government, which could just be nothing more than a cover for the creation of another dictatorship.

"Ano ba itong fino-float na revolutionary government? Hindi ba ito isang tawag lang sa masahol na dikatadura?" their statement read.

"May basehan ba ang pagtatatag ng revolutionary government sa mga batas, maging sa Saligang Batas na sinumpaan nating mga lingkod-bayan na ipagtanggol at ipatupad?"

On Friday, Duterte threatened to declare a revolutionary government should alleged destabilization plots against his administration continue.

The president's daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio also claimed that the supposed destabilization plots against the government were based on intelligence reports and information from "reliable sources".

Unlimited powers

The senators, however, where skeptical of these so-called plots. "May destabilization ba talaga? O base lang sa sabi-sabi o sa guni-guni? Di ba ang pagpuna sa mga maling patakaran ng pamahalaan ay kalayaan ng bawat Pilipino?"

Furthermore, the opposition lawmakers said that the declaration of a revolutionary government could violate the Philippine constitution.

"Sa isang revolutonary government, isasarado ba ang Kongreso? Kung ipipilit, hindi ba paglabag ito sa Konstitusyon at pagtalikod sa sinumpaang tungkulin?" they asked.

Opposition senators also questioned the need for a revolutionary government, which would give the president unlimited powers.

"'Di ba sobra nang makapangyarihan ang Pangulo: kontrol sa lahat ng kagawaran sa Executive, kabilang ang pulis at military; supervision sa lahat ng local government units; magtalaga ng libo-libong tao sa gobyerno; at kung anu-ano pa?"

"Kumpara sa kapangyarihan ng Kongreso at Hukom, di ba mas malawak ang sakop ng Executive? Sa budget pa lang, di ba higit 95 percent ang napupunta sa sangay na pinamumunuan ng Pangulo?" it added.

Moving forward, opposition senators said it would better for the administration to instead focus on the needs of the country, such as the traffic conditions and the increase in consumer prices. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News