As there are various protests for the President to declare a revolutionary government (RevGov) during the celebration of the 154th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio on November 30, Rodrigo Duterte thinks otherwise.
“Well I hope there will never be a time that I will be compelled to call for it (RevGov),” Duterte said in an interview with Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson posted the day before.
According to the Chief Executive, the subject of RevGov started during the Marawi siege and the Martial Law he declared in Mindanao. He, however, reiterated that he was taken out of context and people were not listening to his speech. As a lawyer, he said that the constitution should be followed.
“Remember there’s always a predicate sa aking (in my) statement. You listen first. If the country is going like a ship of state about to capsize, then that would be the time. Maybe, I will have to declare. Other than that, wala akong nakitang rason bakit ako mag-revolutionary gov (I do not see any reason to have a revolutionary government), he said.
Duterte also said that there are always two sides of the story and that apparently, those 16 million who voted for him to win the presidency, called for a RevGov because they are most likely experiencing and seeing corruption and other problems of the country. However, he was also aware of those who are not in favor of a RevGov like the priests and bishops.
“So compromise,” he said, then adding, “Dito tayo, gawa tayo ng bagong constitution. ‘Wag kayo matakot, ‘di ako mag-diktador (Let us make a new constitution. Do not be scared, I will not be a dictator).”
He proceeded on saying that if the new constitution pushes through by the end of this year, it can be “ceremonial” as an end to his term. “Kapag nailusot ‘yang konstitusyon (If the constitution pushes through), I will cease to be the President,” he said.
This was not the first time for the President to show interest in resigning from his post.
The President has been consistent in pursuing a federal government and a constitution amendment to address corruption.
(Read: Duterte: To solve corruption, amend constitution)
Meanwhile, Malacañang hopes for the talks on RevGov to end.
“Ang Presidente po malinaw ang sinabi sa revolutionary government na ‘yan. ‘Pag naghihingalo na ang Republika saka lang niya iisipin ‘yan. Pero ‘pag wala ang mga kondisyon para sa revolutionary government, ang usapin na baguhin o amyendahan ang Saligang Batas ay patunay na hindi siya naniniwala sa revolutionary government (The President ws clear with the subject of revolutionary government. If the Republic is dying, this is when he shall consider it. But given that there is no condition for a revolutionary government, the talk on a new or an amended constitution is the proof that he does not believe in a revolutionary government),” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told DZMM.