‘RevGov’ supporters to rally in Mendiola until evening

A nationwide council embodied by “Duterte allies” on Thursday organized a rally near the Mendiola peace arch urging President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a revolutionary government (RevGov) over the Philippines.

The group, which calls itself “Network Revolution - National Coordinating Council” amassed a crowd of over 1,500 at its start at 3 p.m., according to police officers stationed along Mendiola.

Council member Tony Gonzales said they expected at least 500,000 RevGov supporters to join the event.

Gonzales added that they plan to hold the program until 7 p.m.

LOOK: RevGov supporters crowd Mendiola @gmanews pic.twitter.com/EkODB7FxPq

— M. Claire Layug (@MClaireLayug) November 30, 2017

The movement called for the establishment of a federal government to replace the 1987 Constitution, as stated in their distributed statement.

Their requests also include completely abolishing corruption within the government and private sector; beefing up national security through with an International Security Act; hastening the “modernization” of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police; extinguish illegal drug syndicates and those of other crimes make the economy more open to “assistance” from foreign countries.

“Kami ang nakapangyaring sambayanang Pilipino at kumakatawan na makapangyarihan na kalooban ng mamamayang Pilipino ay lubos na nagkakaisa sa kapasyahan at pagpapahayag ng aming kagustuhang gawan ng pambihirang kapangyarihan si Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte na siyang kinikilala naming Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas,” it said.

The rally was met with at least a thousand anti-RevGov protesters staging a separate demonstration meters away from the arch at the corner of Loyola and Recto roads.

The Palace earlier clarified that President Duterte did not want a revolutionary government, but encouraged its supporters to conduct a rally in a peaceful and orderly manner.

Police were instructed to observe maximum tolerance to exercise restraint in monitoring the protesters. — BM, GMA News