The ending of peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF), the negotiation panel for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), is leading to a renewal of the battle with the armed wing of the CPP, the New People’s Army (NPA).

It is timely for President Rodrigo Duterte to implement a revolutionary government, calling it the “elixir to reconstruct the corrupt system of our country,” and as a means of ridding the nation of the communist insurgency, which has been plaguing the country for the past 48 years – a solution he hopes to achieve through the establishment of a federal form of government.

Can Duterte declare a revolutionary government? Of course, he can’t!

Even before announcing a “dire need” to declare it, it is unconstitutional and illegal as the concept of a revolutionary government is not stated in any existing legal documents, including the Constitution.

He does, however, have an option – declaring a palace coup, a form of coup d’état where the government works against its own constitution. While it uses the same principles of revolution, it is not structural; it is getting of the Constitution and seizing all power. Once he becomes an absolute ruler, he controls everything.

In addition, if he wishes to conduct a successful palace coup, he needs the support of the armed forces and the people. In the long run, this is only possible if there are people who want a revolutionary government.

Setting up a revolutionary government requires conditioning people to believe the country is on the brink of fragmentation; one of the causes of such situations is said to be communist presence in the country.

In a contemporary world, it pits virtuous people against the violent.

This populist ideology follows the logic claiming it is Duterte loyalists versus the left, which includes the Makabayan bloc.

The termination of peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF is very much political maneuvering where some people are not only seeking all-out war against the armed-wing of the rebel group, but a crackdown on progressive groups by tagging them as having communist links and accusing them of destabilizing the government.

Cracking down on activists can lead to massive upheaval, which is a threat to democracy – why the president needs the support of the military.

There is a connection to a plan by former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, General Eduardo Año, to rid the country of communist presence by next year.

The government will attempt to purge the country of, not only the CPP-NPA, but their supporters with left-wing ideologies. From that point, they can establish a revolutionary government because the people have been conditioned to believe the nation needs to be saved.

As long as there is class struggle, you cannot rid the country of communist presence; their cause is equality for all. As long as there is an oligarch in office, there will be a communist presence.

You cannot declare a revolution to fix the problem. There is no quick fix.

For supporters of the ‘RevGov,” be careful what you wish for. Always remember, revolution devour its own children and it may come true, and it may not be what you expected./WDJ