Opposition lawmakers slam call for revolutionary gov't

Opposition lawmakers on Sunday slammed the call of pro-Rodrigo Duterte group of supporters for the establishment of a revolutionary government, raising concerns that such a move is only meant to perpetuate the power of the chief executive.

In a statement, Senator Francis Pangilinan said the public should be wary of calls for a revolutionary government, especially at a time when the country is being ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The nation is already grappling with hunger and joblessness as a result of the lockdown, PhilHealth mess, and lack of funds. The Filipinos will get nothing out of this distraction," he said.

"While the moves of the individuals behind the revolutionary government should be taken with a grain of salt, we must remain vigilant to thwart it as such could be a thinly-veiled dictatorship that would concentrate power in the hands of the president -- which freedom-loving Filipinos should resist," he added.

Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee, a group of the President's supporters, reportedly called for a meeting as they pushed for a revolutionary government.

Philippine National Police chief Police General Archie Gamboa confirmed getting an invitation to attend the said meeting.

But Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate is convinced that the supposed initiative for a revolutionary government is "just another ploy in the arsenal of schemes -- like Martial law declaration, Charter change (Cha-cha) and term extension -- of the pro-Duterte clique to consolidate and extend its hold to power."

"Apparently, the Duterte clique and its allies realized that their Cha-cha move has difficulty taking off, thus, it is once again foisting now this dubious rev-gov scheme by mobilizing its minions so that President Duterte can have more draconian powers that will allow them to remain in power indefinitely," he said.

"The people should vigorously oppose this anti-democratic initiative, especially since clearly its main objective is the mere perpetuation in power of the incompetent and tyrannical rule of the present administration," he added.

ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro shared the sentiment of Zarate, saying that a revolutionary government under Duterte will only further destroy the lives of Filipinos by consolidating and extending the powers of his administration.

"Whether by Charter change, by a brute grab of power in the guise of a ‘revolutionary government’, or by continuing his demolition of critics in government and tagging of progressives as ‘terrorists’, Duterte seeks to consolidate power unto himself and his clique," she said.

"Walang tunay na pagbabago na isinusulong ang 'revolutionary government' na ito. Patuloy lamang tayong niloloko ng administrasyong ito na kunwaring para sa pagbabago pero ang totoo ay babaguhin lang ang batas, ang konstitusyon para siya ay makapanatili sa puwesto at makonsolida ang lahat ng kapangyarihan sa bansa," she added.

Malacañang, however, said that despite the call of a revolutionary government, the focus of the Duterte administration now is to address the impact of COVID-19 in the country.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the call to establish a revolutionary government "came from a private group and the organizers are free to publicly express their opinion."

"The focus, however, of the administration is addressing COVID-19 and mitigating its socioeconomic impact. The most pressing and most urgent concern, which requires the Executive's full attention, is the gradual opening of the economy while safeguarding the people who are working/going back to work amid the pandemic," he added. —LBG, GMA News