Will Mr. Duterte bless a "palace coup" ?

Last week, talks about the possible declaration of a revolutionary government filled the huddles in several coffee shops, barbershops and even inside classrooms.

Seemed like President Rodrigo Roa Duterte once more threatened those who question his leadership with this threat of a revolutionary government. Tindig Pilipinas, the group formed by those who oppose Duterte's leadership style, immediately issued a statement criticizing Mr. Duterte's suggestion.

I, for one, will not dignify Mr. Duterte's threat. This is just an empty boast by a person now being slowly isolated, and being affected by charges of corruption against him and his family. There are three (3) reasons why Mr. Duterte would turn out to be the ultimate fool if he indeed succumb to the suggestion of a revolutionary government. The first one is its Constitutionality. The second one, its immediate effects and the third, its timing.

Is it constitutional for Mr. Duterte to transform his administration into a revolutionary government? No. There is simply no provision in this 1987 Constitution that gives Mr. Duterte the power to create or declare a revolutionary government.

Now, what if Mr. Duterte do resort to this crazy idea, will it prosper? Well, under the politics of what many calls "self-coup" or a "palace coup", the idea really is for Mr. Duterte to break his own oath as President, mass his own generals and take-over government.

Again, let me repeat what I said--- a revolutionary government is only possible if Mr. Duterte breaks his oath as President through an overt act-- a resignation perhaps, and then, gathers his close military and civilian allies and declares that they are separating from the present government, and is taking over the government.

Mr. Duterte must oust himself or dissolve his government first, before he can even declare anything.
Will Mr. Duterte do that?

The problem really is Mr. Duterte is courting treason or sedition by even raising the bogey that is revolutionary government. 

If Mr. Duterte dissolves his government, he will be dissolving only his set of Cabinet members, and not the whole of government, because there is still the Office of the Vice President which succeeds Mr. Duterte in case of his death or resignation.

Vice president Leni Robredo will immediately take her oath of office as President, leaving Mr. Duterte out of government. Will the generals get instructions from Mr. Duterte, seeing that he no longer sits as President? No. Mr. Duterte will wake up one day realizing that he is not the military's darling or poster guy anymore. And when he does, it will be too late.

Lastly, the timing is simply terrible.

Mr. Duterte is in the middle of a political AND economic maelstrom. Mr. Duterte is being accused of corruption, a corruption so vile, it sickens those who hear it.

Mr. Duterte and his relatives are on the propaganda offensive, threatening to fight anybody who questions their illicit wealth. My favorite, Mayor Sara Duterte is making her arguments felt yet showing her "bisaya" side is not helping her father one bit. Sara is showing what enraged the masses during the Marcos and Estrada eras--when families of presidents show how they think they are above everybody else. That was one of the reasons why the Marcoses and the Estrada's fell from power, and that is now the same malaise that afflicts Mr. Duterte and his close family members.

President Duterte must address the issue of corruption directly. Sign the bank waiver, and make your critics eat their own shit. Or, afraid of eating your own vomit?