Rody threatens to declare revolutionary gov’t if...

MANILA, Philippines — If the government will be in peril due to the efforts of the Left and his critics, President Duterte would not hesitate to declare a revolutionary government to quell destabilization moves against his administration.

He added that he would use the revolutionary powers to avert the country from falling into chaos as he accused the Communist Party of the Philippines of playing a key role in the destabilization efforts.

“’Pag ang (if the) destablization ninyo patagilid na at medyo magulo na (would be shaky and more trouble), I will not hesitate to declare a revolutionary government until the end of my term,” he said yesterday over state-run People’s Television Network.

He will do this only when the destabilizers are on the brink of taking over government.

Once the military government is restored, Duterte said he would order the security forces to arrest all destabilizers and go on a full-scale war against the communist rebels.

“I will arrest all of you and we can go to a full-scale war against the Reds,” Duterte said.

A lawyer, Duterte noted that his hands would not be tied in case he declares a revolutionary government – unlike when he imposes martial law, which mandates the reporting to Congress within 60 days upon declaration.

With the military and the police on his side, he doubted whether any effort to take over the government would be successful.

“Do you think the Armed Forces of the Philippines and (Philippine National) Police would sympathize with you after you have cheapened the lives of those who were killed in EJKs?” the Chief Executive said.

At the same time, Duterte also accused certain media outlets critical of his administration as having received funds from abroad to destroy his administration.

“They are there to destroy me,” he said, agreeing with the opinion of columnist Rigoberto Tiglao, who warned that certain media critics are receiving funding from a firm backed by the US Central Intelligence Agency.