Charges of sedition and conspiracy to destabilize the duly constituted authority are in consideration by a senator allied to the president against a most unlikely entity or coalition: a rabid and staunch presidential re-electionist advocacy seeking to bumrush the president’s major unfulfilled campaign promises.
The pro-Duterte group of about 300 staged its picket at the Clark City Freeport yesterday. They seek special powers for the President so he could junk the current 1987 Constitution and reform the government the way he sees fit.
Senator Joel Villanueva wants to hold into greater account members of the People’s National Coalition for Revolutionary Government and Charter Change after congregating in public and aggressively demanding for charter change.
Criminal charges of incitement to sedition and government destabilization are being formally sought against the group. His proposal has drawn bipartisan support.
The Senate President has chimed in, pushing back on the group’s plan of action and throwing shade at yesterday’s congregation using the metaphor of a ship without the rudder.
“Being extraconstitutional, it is not a simple mistake but an uncorrectable blunder. Administration enemies will win, both internal and external,” Sotto added in a Viber message.
Even the patriotic and open-minded defense chief couldn’t help expressing opposition against the outrageous initiative, downplaying their call for action and saying it would draw little support.
“We have a legally constituted government. The President is an elected president and enjoys popular support. Why should there be a need for a revolutionary government?” Lorenzana said in a message to reporters.
Likewise, there was no lack of feedback from personalities on the other side of the political divide. Vice President Leni Robredo scored the move as disruptive and inimical to the interest of the nation amidst national efforts to stem the spread of the virus.
“What they are asking is for the junking of our Constitution. On that point alone, that is already illegal,” she said in her weekly radio show.
“So why do they let an exercise like this happen, especially at a time like this?”
For his part, opposition solon and militant activist Carlos Zarate tried to link a tag team conspiracy between the group with the administration as its silent partner to hopefully perpetuate itself into power. – Nonoy Sarte
