Roque: Revolutionary government unconstitutional

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Wednesday installing a revolutionary government is unconstitutional.

Speaking to CNN Philippines, Roque maintained that President Rodrigo Duterte does not support the call of his supporters to lead a revolutionary government.

“It is not constitutional. Precisely, it is called revolutionary because it does not fall within the framework of the Constitution," Roque, a former law professor, said when asked for his legal opinion on the matter.

"As far as I'm concerned, the President was elected to a fixed term of office. He will finish that fixed term of office."

Roque said he finds the call to overturn the 1987 Constitution "strange" and "incomprehensible."

"They claim to be supporters of the President so why would they want to unseat a constitutional president," he said.

"Although people can talk about it because they may have criticisms against the system, I join the President in our belief that the Constitution should be upheld because all public officers took an oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the land," the Palace official said.

In his address last week, Duterte denied any hand on the recent call of his supporters for a revolutionary government. On Monday, Duterte said such an initiative should be discussed publicly and with the military.

Explaining the President's latest statement, Roque said: "All he said in his address to the nation is talk about it if you want. If the military wants to join the discussion, let them join the discussion."

"But he has made up his mind as far as his personal conviction on it is concerned. He is not for it,” he added. —KBK, GMA News