Duterte rejects revolutionary government for Philippines as health rumours swirl

Philippine president distances himself from group of supporters who want to overturn constitution and implement a federal system

Move would sideline arch-rival Vice-President Leni Robredo if Duterte were incapacitated, but does not have support of army or police

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Duterte, as he appears in the video released on Tuesday.

Published: 9:24pm, 25 Aug 2020Updated: 9:45pm, 25 Aug 2020

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has rejected a call from a group of his supporters to overturn the constitution and form a “revolutionary government”.

Duterte – who has on two previous occasions threatened to declare such a government – said in a video aired on Tuesday that while “many people” were calling on him to do so, he would not because doing so was “not my job”. He also claimed not to know the people behind the calls.

His video came after a group called the Mayor Rodrigo Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee announced on Saturday they would march to the Malacanang Palace to announce a “People’s Declaration of a Revolutionary Government” after gathering an unspecified number of signatures on a petition.

They said they would “appeal” to Duterte “to lead” this government until December 31, 2021, after which elections would be held under a new constitution, according to a letter the group’s spokesman Bobby Brillante wrote to the Philippine National Police director general Archie Gamboa.

The group wants to replace the country’s presidential form of government with a federal system, and it believes the only way to do this is for Duterte to form a revolutionary government and overturn the 1987 constitution.

Philippine Vice-President Leni Robredo. Photo: AFP

However, such a government could also prevent Vice-President Leni Robredo – Duterte’s arch-critic and constitutional successor – from taking over should he become incapacitated.