‘Arrest revgov proponents’

A lawyer advocacy group has asked the government to arrest the proponents and “self-styled revolutionaries” pushing for the establishment of a revolutionary government, saying it is a “brazen affront to the sovereign Filipino people.”

In a statement, the Tagapagtanggol ng Watawat (Defenders of the Flag), a group of lawyers advocating to uphold the constitution and the rule of law, called on public leaders to do more to defend the republic against the “existential threat” of fringe groups pushing for a revolutionary government.

The group said law enforcement agencies “must enforce the law” against those seeking to overthrow the Constitution.

“Calls for a revolutionary government are an existential threat to our Republic, an unspeakable abomination to our democracy, a brazen affront to the sovereign Filipino people,” said the group, which consists of Dean Jose Aguila Grapilon, and lawyers Marlon Anthony Tonson and Arnel Victor Valeña.

The group issued the statement  after the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee assembled at the Clark Freeport to call for a “revolutionary government” headed by the president himself until December 31, 2021.

It added that calls for a revolutionary government are “not protected speech, not being sheltered by the Constitution which the proponents seek to overthrow.”

“Such calls are made not by, nor of, nor for the Sovereign Filipino People,” the group said.

Tagapagtanggol ng Watawat stressed that a revolutionary government would contravene the Constitution as it seeks to “sweep away the safeguards, the checks and balances, and the limitations on State power.”

Duterte, in a public address on Tuesday, denied any hand in the recent call of his supporters for a revolutionary government.

“Wala akong pakialam diyan, wala akong kilala na mga tao na ‘yan at hindi ko ‘yan trabaho,” the President said.

In 2017, Duterte threatened to declare a revolutionary government if his opponents try to oust him.

But the President claimed that he has no plan to become a dictator and promised to step down once his term ends in 2022.

Source: TheManila Times