EDITORIAL - Revolutionary government

President Duterte has distanced himself from the proposal of some of his supporters to create a revolutionary government, which can then railroad an overhaul of the Constitution to pave the way for a shift to federalism.

The Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee or MRRD-NECC, whose proposal has provided some distraction in the difficult task of curbing the COVID-19 contagion, held a rally over the weekend, calling for the creation of the revolutionary government, with the President at its helm.

Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones is the national president of the MRRD-NECC, which counts three Cabinet undersecretaries as supporters. This has fueled suspicion that the Duterte administration is behind the group. Its advocacy apparently takes off from President Duterte’s threat, given in 2017, that he would set up a revolutionary government if his perceived enemies continued their destabilization efforts. Yesterday, the President declared that he didn’t know those behind the latest move.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has condemned the move and called for an investigation of those behind it. There are debates on whether the call for the creation of a revolutionary government, which is not provided for in the Constitution, warrants an indictment for inciting to sedition. MRRD-NECC members have said they are ready to face any probe.

Philippine National Police officials have said the PNP will “never” support any extraconstitutional move. With security agencies cool to the proposal, and the President himself disowning the effort, it’s time to drop this initiative.

Charter change and the shift to federalism were conspicuously not mentioned in the past two State of the Nation Addresses of the President, indicating that these are no longer his priorities. With prospects dimming for federalism under his watch, he appears to be content with the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to deal with unrest in the southern Philippines.

In his latest statement, the President has made it clear that he wants full attention to be given to the pandemic response. His officials should act accordingly.