A GROUP of mostly retired generals, including six former Armed Forces chiefs, yesterday rejected the call for the establishment of a revolutionary government (RevGov) to rush amendments to the Constitution, saying the move could only worsen the plight of Filipinos, especially amid the coronavirus virus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“We are against the establishment of a revolutionary form of government because it is baseless, illegal and will only add to the suffering of our people,” the Advocates for National Interest (ANI) said in a statement in reaction to the call made by the Mayor Rodrigo Road Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC).
“Our nation must remain united under one flag, one Constitution. We oppose any initiative from any sector that will undermine the Constitution of the Philippines,” the group added.
ANI counts former AFP chiefs generals Rodolfo Biazon, Renato de Villa, Alexander Yano, Victor Ibrado, Emmanuel Bautista and Eduardo Oban as among its members. Biazon was also a former senator and congressman, while De Villa also served as defense secretary.
The group’s chairman is former AFP Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan.
The other prominent figures who are part of the group are former PNP chief Gen. Recaredo Sarmiento, former Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Ramon Farolan, and former AFP deputy chief of staff Vice Adm. Emilio Marayag.
The group also includes as member former Air Force lieutenant Ashley Acedillo, a former Magdalo party list representative. Acedillo figured in failed attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration.
“It (MRRD-NECC) seeks to bring about major changes in the institutions of our country including the legislative and the judiciary thru authoritarian undemocratic means,” the ANI said, warning that “(move) will produce bigger problems than what it tries to solve.”
The ANI said its statement was in support to the earlier pronouncement of the Armed Forces and PNP leaderships against the revolutionary government.
“We support the defense, the Armed Forces and the National Police leadership in their swift rejection of the call for the establishment of a revolutionary government. The mission remains: defend and uphold the Constitution,” it said.
The pro-government MRRD-NECC announced last weekend its plan to put up a revolutionary government to hasten proposed revisions to the Constitution, including the shift to a federal style of government. Its leaders asked President Duterte to head the revolutionary government.
Duterte, in a public address aired Tuesday, disowned the MRRD-NECC as he denied a hand in the group’s efforts.
“I don’t know them and it’s not my strategy,” the President has said.
However, Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Suansing said that contrary to the President’s statement, the group’s officials are actually present and former appointees of Malacañang, among them former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) chief Guiling Mamondiong who is its chairman, Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones who is the national president. Mamondiong was an active supporter of Duterte during his presidential campaign and was one of the members of the volunteer group Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte (MRRD).
DAR Undersecretary Emily Padilla, added Densing, is likewise a part of the group. The group’s spokesman, Bobby Brillante, was an active supporter of the President when he ran for president during the 2016 presidential elections.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Gilbert Gapay said the push for a revolutionary government was among the issues discussed during last Monday’s command conference with Duterte in Davao City. The command conference was attended by Cabinet secretaries and military commanders.
“We just, you know, reiterated our position that we do not support it as far as (the) Armed Forces is concerned because we find it unconstitutional. In fact, we find it politically-motivated,” Gapay said.
