KNOWING REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT

In Philippines history, the only times the revolutionary government (RevGov) was declared were during Emilio Aquinaldo and Cory Aquino’s presidencies, for an apparent reason that the country was needed to fix from turmoil of previous administrations.  President Aguinaldo established RevGov replacing the dictatorial government from Spaniard colonization, thus the revolutionary congress formed the First Philippine Republic after a year.  Under the former president Corazon Aquino, the RevGov was established to make radical changes and reforms to reinstate the democracy that oppressed by ousted President Marcos’ administration, thus the 1987 constitution was ratified.  In today’s presidency of Rodrigo Duterte where he acquired the government in peaceful, constitutional and democratic way, declaring the RevGov must be conflicting that something to bother its authenticity and the real intention.  Once the RevGov has declared, the transition period starts to reform the government into another form of government, in case of our present scenario it is to switch from democratic republic to federalism with parliamentary system.  The declaration of Cory’s RevGov was to change the corrupt government that toppled by world’s critically known people’s power bloodless revolution, while this government that is sitting pretty from the support of fanatics or blind supporters contradicts itself – it’s rebelling against their own system?

My first impression with this RevGov is the obscured face of federalism that will favor nepotism and make geographical powerful political dynasty into reign.  The intention of RevGov is a primer to federalism.  Federalism is a system of government in which the provinces is sharing the power with the national government.  In federalism, each province is allowed to govern their own rule and manage their own resources.  Each region has its own unique cultural, economic and social needs, where each region exactly knows how to deal them and should allow them to find their own solutions.  By its very definition, it is actually good but in Philippines politics, this will cause individualism of the urbanized and rich regions, disintegration, strengthen political dynasty and much worse is to authoritarian government.  I have nothing against federalism but nd as long as the RevGov is initiated thru a political ploy amidst of our political immaturity, I will not trust the intention of RevGov.  I believe in the idea of RevGov when there is rebellion, martial law or war aftermath but then again, we are in a democratic republic.  Declaring the RevGov as the main option is reflection of weakness to address the not so intimidating critical situation. You have the overwhelming popularity and the strong machinery, how could the minority opposition be threat to national and political security? For me it doesn’t sit well to know that a government taken from a peaceful democratic and constitutional election has to undergo RevGov.  Someone democratically elected president to declare a RevGov is conflicting, scary and alarming.  I think RevGov will just be taken for granted to silence the critics and opposition, thus tantamount to martial law and suppression of democracy.

In addition, knowing the vindictiveness reputation of the present administration who strikes out the biggest critics and laud oppositions like Senators Antonio Trillanes, Laila Delima, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio, Supreme Justice Lourdes Sereno and acquits the prisoners of the past administration like Gloria Macapaga-Aroyo, Juan Ponce Enrille, Jinggoy Estrada, et al., then the parliamentary system will most likely bring back the likes of Marcoses, Macapagal-Aroyos and Estradas to make the grand comeback into power again.  It seems that there is actually a ploy here like whatever the political rival wants, this administration will oppose regardless hitting the economy, foreign diplomacy, unity, and peace and order.  I have no foul understanding about federalism but our level of political maturity and our government reputation today make me to have reservation over federalism to use it for defense of today’s dominant in power.  It will be advantage at first but in the long run, our severe and chronic political disease will destroy the meaning of federalism.  If not for political ploy but for the very definition of federalism, I can welcome it with open arm and heart.