Palace claims ‘Duterte’s revolutionary war meant vs state enemies’

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang downplayed yesterday President Duterte’s threat to declare a “revolutionary war,” saying the remark was an “exasperated expression” directed against “enemies of the state,” not the people. 

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte was not threatening the people when he said he would declare a revolutionary war or revolutionary government if pushed to the wall.

“If the statement came across as a threat, it was not made on a whim but brought about by a series of acts committed against the people,” Panelo said.

“The threat, if it is a threat, is not against the people but precisely against their enemies – the criminals, people manning the illegal drug industry, corrupt bureaucrats, greedy politicians, communist rebels, foreign and local terrorists and other enemies of the state,” Panelo explained.

He said among the problems that angered Duterte were the bold entry of illegal drugs in the country despite the relentless war against narcotics, unmitigated corruption in government, bureaucratic red tape that has stymied government projects, the seeming impunity of criminals, onerous contracts entered into by government that prevented it from protecting the people’s interests, attacks by communist rebels and terrorist threats. 

On Thursday, Duterte floated the possibility of declaring a “revolutionary war” after opposition Sen. Franklin Drilon urged the administration to be cautious in reviewing government contracts.

Drilon said no country or entity would forge deals with the Philippines if the sanctity of contracts is not respected.

“I have enough problems with crime, drugs, rebellion and all pero pag ako ang pinaabot ninyo ng sagad (if you go too far), I will declare a suspension of the writ of habeas corpus and I will arrest all of you,” Duterte said during a convention of prosecutors in Palawan last week. 

“Why should I be careful in reviewing contracts that are not in the interest of the people? And the onerous and (burdensome) provisions there that the people will have to honor, so you think I will allow it? Just because we cannot impair the obligation of our contracts?” he added. 

Duterte also threatened to suspend the writ of habeas corpus, a safeguard against illegal detention. It is a court order to present the body of someone who is in jail.

“So kasama kayo sa mga rebelde, mga kriminal pati mga durugista. Then pahirapan mo ako (You are at par with rebels, criminals and drug addicts, then you make it hard for me), I will declare a revolutionary war until the end of my term,” Duterte said. 

Critics lambasted Duterte for threatening to suspend the writ of habeas corpus, saying his bold statement was just a way to divert attention from the failures of his administration. 

Advocacy group Karapatan said human rights are not subject to the “personal whims, interests and lunacy” of the President.

The group also expressed fear that Duterte’s statement would lead to intensified onslaught of killings and human rights violations to stifle dissent and to bury the “crimes perpetrated by this government.”

But Panelo said Duterte merely warned violators of the law that he would not condone their actions.

Panelo noted that under Article 2, Section 4 of the Constitution, “the prime duty of the government is to serve and protect the people.” 

“The President’s narrative on the revolutionary war is an expression of frustration and at the same time to put the transgressors of the law on notice that he will not sit idly and watch their transgressions (go) unabated,” Panelo said.

 He said the President could use the powers reposed to him by the Constitution to quell the attacks on the people and save the state.  – With Edith Regalado