Sleepless in Malacañang

By Artchil B. Fernandez

 

Someone is sleepless in Malacañang or some people are losing sleep in the center of power. This is borne by an event in the past few days.

Amid the pandemic where Filipinos are fighting for their lives against Covid-19, a group of Du30 supporters issued a call to arms, crying out for the establishment of a revolutionary government.  They are calling for a people’s coalition for revolutionary government and charter change.

Around three hundred members of Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Council (MRRD-NECC) gathered in Clark Freeport this week to plot the establishment of a revolutionary government. They invited PNP Chief Archie Gamboa to join them. The group is calling for the overthrow of the present constitutional order and the creation of a revolutionary government that will write a new constitution. The revolutionary government will be headed by Du30 himself.

What the group wants is this: Du30 should launch a coup against his own government and replace it with a revolutionary government to be headed also by Du30. This is a bizarre if not twisted move. Du30 is already the president of the country. Why would Du30 overthrow himself and then install himself in power?

In a glance, this is a hilarious move, a bad joke that Du30 usually cracks. Du30 and his group at present hold the reins of power in the country. They are in the government, they are the present administration and they want to replace themselves with themselves?

But the move is no joke and it clearly illustrates the dilemma of Du30 and his supporters at present. They are losing sleep over it as this nightmare is getting scarier as time tiptoes towards 2022.

Du30’s biggest nightmare is losing power in 2022, the time the present Constitution says he will step down from the presidency. He is scared of his future, what will happen to him and his cahoots once they are no longer in Malacañang. His administration has done terrible and horrible deeds foremost among them is the slaughter of thousands of Filipinos in a macabre and gruesome orgy of blood and gore with his brutal war against illegal drugs. Du30 and his gang will certainly be brought to justice, locally and internationally. The more likely prospect of Du30 and his partners-in-crime being dragged into the International Criminal Court (ICC) to face trial for crimes against humanity frightens them most.

There are two ways for Du30 and his gang to stay in power beyond 2022. The first option – they tried hard to promote in the early days of his administration but did not gain traction – is federalism through charter change. Federalism was vigorously marketed by the administration in its first two years in office but it fizzled out. With a little more than a year and a half left in office, changing the present Constitution is no longer feasible and possible. This option has run out of time.

Out of desperation, Du30 and his supporters are now trying the extra-constitutional option, which is overthrowing their own government. But this option is fraught with dangers aside from being patently illegal. A coup is a dangerous business and it usually swallows its instigator. The ringleaders could end up in the guillotine.

Worst for Du30 and his gang, the extra-constitutional path has no popular support and is not backed by the military, a crucial element in a coup. The defense establishment immediately thumbed down the move. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana called the move to create a revolutionary government “illegal and unconstitutional.” Southern Luzon Command chief, Major General Antonio Parlade dismissed the call telling the Commission on Appointment (CA) that the military is not in favor of a revolutionary government and will not support its formation.

Failing to secure the support of the military, Du30 backed out from the call. In his weekly talk (which is a morning show this week) he distanced from the call for a revolutionary government saying he does not know the people behind the move. Du30 is of course lying (as usual) for he personally attended the convention of MRRD-NECC in 2018. His presence in the convention is on record.

The Du30 administration once again engaged in a fishing expedition this week, testing the political waters if its extra-constitutional move will gain support and momentum. Sensing it has none, it backed down, but this does not mean it will not attempt again in the future. As the clock ticks towards 2022, the insecurity and paranoia of the administration will only grow and as it becomes more and more desperate, it will attempt, again and again to overthrow the present political set-up.

One sure consequence of the failure to the push for a revolutionary government this week is, someone will continue to be sleepless in Malacañang and the people there will continue to have terrifying insomnia. Adding to their fear is the frail health of Du30.

In his weekly talks (late night or morning), the fragility of Du30’s physical condition can no longer be concealed. He is weak and feeble and complained this week his movement is being restricted by his doctors and security group. Du30 even lamented that money is useless since he can no longer enjoy the pleasures of life.  Do not drink, his doctors told him Du30 revealed a warning that his Barrett’s esophagus disease is nearing stage one cancer. Various ailments afflict Du30 including Buerger’s disease and myasthenia gravis. The party could be over even before 2022.

Holding on to power beyond 2022 is what keeps Du30 sleepless in Malacañang. But what makes his gang losing sleep is if they are still in Malacañang by 2022.