DILG not consulted about group’s call of revolutionary gov’t, proposal ‘ill-timed’ — spox Malaya

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was not consulted by the pro-Rodrigo Duterte group of supporters on their call to establish a revolutionary kind of government, the ageny's spokesman said Monday.

"We were never consulted by the group MRRD-NECC (Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte - National Executive Coordinating Committee), although we know them, but we were never consulted nor have we had talks with them with relation to this proposal on their end to establish a revolutionary government," Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya told CNN-Philippines.

Malaya pointed out the DILG needs to find out first the details of the proposal of the group. He, however, said the proposal of the MRRD-NECC is not stated in the 1987 Constitution.

"Our problem with this proposal is that it's not in the Constitution. If you look at the Constitution, the Constitution only speaks of constitutional convention, a constituent assembly or people's initiative as a means of amending it," Malaya said.

He said while the DILG supports amending the present Constitution, it should still be "within the parameters of the Constitution itself."

Ill-timed

Meanwhile, Malaya branded the proposal as ill-timed because, according to him, the national government is focused on addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect to the economy.

"The DILG, just like what presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said, we are focused 100% in defeating COVID," Malaya said. "At this time sarado kami dahil we're focused on COVID. Given that we are battling, this could be a destruction of what we're doing right now."

Malaya was silent when asked if the group's move was unconstitutional or if they could be held liable for inciting sedition. He said the DILG does not know yet the details of the proposal and the question is best answered by the courts.

Malacañang already clarified that the Duterte administration would remain focused on addressing the impact of the COVID-19 crisis in the country amid the calls of the group for a revolutionary government.

Opposition lawmakers condemned the move, noting that it will just perpetuate the power of the Chief Executive. — RSJ, GMA News