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AFP bound by Constitution in case revgov is declared —Parlade


The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will uphold what is in the Constitution if ever so-called revolutionary government is declared, Southern Luzon Command chief Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. said Monday, adding there is no need for such.

During the Commission on Appointments' deliberation of his ad interim appointment, Senator Risa Hontiveros asked Parlade how the AFP would respond in case such a situation arises.

"We have to go back to the Constitution and determine whether these actions are allowed by the Constitution. Our actions will be all limited to what's in that Constitution," he responded.

Further, the military general said he does not believe that there is a need for a revolutionary government.

"We have existing mechanisms, we have a Constitution that is very robust. Maybe we need some reforms. There are provisions in the Constitution that are already obsolete, maybe that's one of the things that we should look at," Parlade said.

He inferred that President Rodrigo Duterte's supporters who were calling for such may have been only airing their dissatisfaction at the "slow pace" of some reforms that they want to see.

"We need to support reforms in the government and these can be done through legislation," he added.

No ongoing recruitment within AFP

Philippine Army chief of staff Major General Rowen Tolentino said no individuals or groups have so far approached him and his colleagues regarding the establishment of a revolutionary government.

"We just heard actually in the news... Honestly we don't have any idea why this news is coming out but as what was  spoken by General Parlade a while ago, we are following the duly constituted authorities and this RevGov has no place in the Armed Forces," Tolentino said.

Asked if he knows any ongoing recruitment within the armed forces to join this revolutionary government, he said: "Wala pa kaming nadidinig na ganoon... May military law po tayo na hindi po pinapayagan 'yung mga ganyang pagsali sa mga organization that is not constitutionally legal."

It has been recently reported that Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte - National Executive Coordinating Committee, a group of administration supporters, organized a meeting to advance the call for a revolutionary government.

Philippine National Police chief General Archie Gamboa confirmed that he has been sent an invitation to attend the said event.

Malacanang, meanwhile, said the administration is focused at addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and that the call came from a private group who were free to publicly express their opinion.—AOL, GMA News

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