Palace links Duterte ‘revolution’ remark to ‘Les Misérables’ song

Malacañang on Monday linked President Rodrigo Duterte’s challenge to health workers to stage a “revolution” against the government to a song from the musical Les Misérables that is popular among his critics.

Duterte on Sunday granted the medical workers’ plea for stricter lockdown in Metro Manila even as he slammed them for for airing their plea in public instead of just writing a letter to the government.

Explaining Duterte’s sentiments, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque cited the release of the Filipino version of “Do You Hear the People Sing,” a song from Les Misérables, which was played in anti-government protests.

“Meron po kasi parang kumakalat na kanta ng rebolusyon na pinangungunahan po ng mga kritiko ng gobyerno. So, ‘yun po ‘yun. Ang sabi niya, ‘huwag na nating pahabain ang proseso, kung gusto ninyo, ngayon na,’” Roque said in a radio interview.

Roque later said in his regular press briefing that the release of the artists’ rendition of the came at a time when personalities from the political opposition such as Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Franklin Drilon raised issues against the government’s COVID-19 response

“Ang konteksto po na lumabas ito ay sunod sunod po kasi 'yung pagtawag ni [Senator] Drilon na failure ang IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force], sinusugan po 'yan ni VP Leni Robredo kasabay po 'yang kumakalat na revolution song,” he said.

Philippine College of Physicians president Dr. Mario Panaligan has denied that they were calling for a revolution. 

Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) vice president Dr. Ma. Encarnita Blanco-Limpin underscored that solidarity is actually what they wanted.

“Hindi naman kami nagsabi ng rebolusyon. Nilinaw din namin na hindi kami nakikipag-away o nakikipag-giyera sa gobyerno,” Limpin said. “Ang pinakagusto talaga namin solidarity, unity, 'yung combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Hindi ho rebolusyon ang hinihingi namin.”

Medical frontliners earlier asked for Metro Manila to return to an enhanced community quarantine for two weeks to give them time to rest and "recalibrate strategies" against COVID-19. — RSJ, GMA News