Vice President Leni Robredo expressed her growing concerns on the subject of a revolutionary government (RevGov) on November 30, Thursday.
“Alarming ‘yun kasi parang gusto mong mag-alsa sa pamahalaan na isa ka sa mga kinatawan. Parang very ironic ‘yung ganoong sitwasyon (It is alarming for it is like you want to rebel against the government when you are part of it. This situation is very ironic),” Robredo said after the ceremonial rites in commemoration of the 154th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio at the monument in Caloocan City, erected in his honor.
She was referring to the reports that her office received, saying that some government officials are supporting a RevGov. Rumors also said that supporting it would grant these officials a post in its declaration.
She stressed that, “Nakakabahala kasi kapag sinabi mong revolutionary government, gusto mong isantabi ‘yung konstitusyon (It bothers me because when you say revolutionary government, you want to set aside the constitution).”
“Laban ito sa mga existing na batas, kaya nakakabahala (This is against existing laws, that is why it is really bothersome),” she added.
The Vice President also raised a question on who will be held liable. “Kasi iyong pag-alsa laban sa konstitusyon, pag-alsa iyon laban sa pamahalaan (Because a rebellion against the constitution is a rebellion against the government),” she said.
At the same time, some of President Rodrigo Duterte’s supporters protested today, urging and welcoming the President to declare a RevGov.
For the Vice President, it could be that some supporters of a RevGov, do not really understand its concept and meaning. She said that supporting it is equivalent to not believing in the government and the constitution.
The President has reiterated in interviews and press conferences though, that a RevGov is just a last resort, and that he hopes that time for a declaration will not come.
(Read: Duterte hopes he won’t “be compelled” to declare RevGov)
“Tingin ko napakahalaga ng statement niyang iyon, kasi dapat it will put to rest iyong lahat na mga haka-haka na baka ito, baka mag-declare. Kapag si Pangulo na mismo iyong nagsabi na hindi mag-de-declare, iyon iyong panghahawakan natin (I think his statement is really important because it will put to rest rumors on a declaration. If it is the President himself who said that he will not declare, that is what we should on to),” Robredo said.
Robredo led the commemoration ceremony, as the President was reported to be in Mindanao.
Earlier, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said that Duterte was in a conflict-ridden area in Mindanao, for a commitment he could not disclose to the public.
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Rey Leonardo Guerrero, and Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan joined the Vice President in leading the ceremonial rites.