No need for Duterte to meet supporters pushing for RevGov

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte holds a meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on June 22, 2020. ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – There is no need for President Rodrigo Duterte to meet supporters pushing for a revolutionary government (RevGov) since he has repeatedly said that it is not among his priorities, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque dismissed suggestions for the President to meet members of a pro-Duterte group, who assembled at Clark Freeport in Pampanga last Saturday to push for the establishment of a revolutionary government.

Members of the People’s National Coalition for Revolutionary Government and Charter Change and Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC) have been pushing for the establishment of a RevGov and the adoption of a new federal constitution.

Duterte, in a speech on Monday, denied a hand in calls to establish a revolutionary government, saying he has no knowledge of the group’s movement.

“Inanunsiyo na niya sa buong bayan, wala siyang pakialam sa RevGov at nakatutok siya ngayon sa problema ng Covid. So hindi na po kinakailangan sabihin kahit na sino pa (The President already announced to the entire nation that he doesn’t care about RevGov and he’s focused on the problem of Covid. So he doesn’t need to repeat himself),” he said.

Roque explained that while Duterte personally knows some members of the MRRD-NECC, he remains firm in his decision to prioritize the continued fight against Covid-19.

“Kinikilala po talaga iyan ni Presidente na tumulong sa kanyang kampanya at mayroon talaga siyang mga kakilala diyan sa MRRD. Pero iyong mga lumulutang na mga tao behind RevGov na iyon ay iba po iyan doon sa mga taong tinutukoy ninyo ngayon sa inyong tanong (The President recognizes the help they gave him during his campaign and he really knows some members of the MRRD. But the people behind RevGov calls are different from the people you mentioned in your question),” he said.

He said members of Duterte’s Cabinet who are pushing for a revolutionary government should respect the President’s stand.

“Kung mayroon mga miyembro ng Gabinete na nagsusulong ng RevGov, narinig na po nila ang sinabi ng Presidente, hindi niya gusto iyang RevGov, wala siyang pakialam diyan (If there are members of the Cabinet pushing for RevGov, they have alreay heard the President, he doesn’t want RevGov, He doesn’t care about it),” he said.

According to Roque, Duterte has made it clear that he has no interest in instituting such changes.

“Sapat na po iyan para malaman ng mga miyembro ng Gabinete at mga supporters niya kung ano ang paninindigan ng ating Presidente (That’s enough for members of the Cabinet and supporters to know where the President stands),” he said.

Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III earlier said Duterte knew some of the members of the MRRD-NECC, particularly former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chief Gene Mamondiong.

Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Emily Padilla, who is part of MRRD-NECC, also denied that members were involved in any revolutionary government talks.

She floated the possibility that some members could be acting on their own.