Duterte knows group pushing for revolutionary gov't, DILG exec claims

President Rodrigo Duterte knows the group pushing for a revolutionary kind of government,  Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Operations Epimaco Densing III said Wednesday.

"Kilala niya ho 'yan... kilala niya 'yan kasi ang namumuno po diyan ay si Chairman, ang chairman ho niyan ay si dating TESDA chief Gene Mamondiong, so kilala niya ho 'yan," Densing told Dobol B sa News TV.

"'Yung ibang miyembro ng MRRD nasa Gabinete eh... Sina Secretary Castriciones, Usec. Padilla so kilala niya 'yung grupo..." he added.

On Tuesday, Duterte denied that he has a connection with Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee, a group of the President's supporters, saying that he does not know them.

"Marami ngayon, may naglalabas na revolutionary government tapos ako ang sinasabi na... Wala akong pakialam diyan, wala akong kilala na mga tao na 'yan at hindi ko 'yan trabaho," Duterte said.

According to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the group must be investigated as its call was "illegal and unconstitutional." He firmly said the Department of National Defense is not supporting their call.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa already ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to look into the said group.

Densing said the group could be investigated if complaints were filed against them. He further said the group's call is a way of "expressing themselves."

"Kung mayroong nagrereklamo, puwede naman nilang tingnan pero tingnan muna nila rin kung may basehan," Duterte said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government said the proposal of the group was ill-timed as the national government is focusing on the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. —LBG, GMA News