Former President Rodrigo Duterte testifies at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on extrajudicial killings, addressing alleged human rights violations from his administration’s war on drugs on October 28, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Malacanang on Tuesday called on former President Rodrigo Duterte to respect the Philippine Constitution after he urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines to correct the country’s supposed "fractured governance". 

Duterte in an online press conference in Davao City on Monday evening urged the military to "correct" an alleged "fracture in governance" that he claimed could not be remedied. "There is no relief. It is only the military who can correct it," he said.

He issued the remarks on the same day that his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, faced a House inquiry into her use of confidential funds.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin called out ex-President Duterte’s "selfish" motive in supposedly "calling for a sitting president to be overthrown" so that his daughter could take over the government.  

Bersamin claimed the former President would “go to great and evil lengths” for his plan to succeed, including insulting the AFP “by asking them to betray their oath.”

"The former president should respect the Constitution, not disobey it. He should desist from being as irresponsible as he has become," the Palace official said in a statement.

Bersamin said the Marcos administration “will not shirk from its sworn duty to govern and manage the affairs of the Filipino Nation according to the Constitution and the Rule of Law,” and “will defend its legacy before the Filipino People only by lawful means.”

“The state will act resolutely to go against all unlawful attempts and challenges,” the Executive Secretary said.

“Hindi katanggap-tanggap ang marahas na pang-aagaw ng kapangyarihan upang madaling maluklok bilang pangulo sa pamamagitan ng pagpaslang, panggugulo at pag-aalsa,” he continued.

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INCITING TO SEDITION?

Lawmakers believe Duterte’s statements may be considered “inciting to sedition”, according to a lawmaker.

“‘Yung order na iyon, iyong suggestion na iyon, is very much against the Constitution,” 1-RIDER Party List Representative Rodge Gutierrez said.

“During the first time that this happened, the usual crime that was tagged to it was inciting to sedition, because they’re calling on the AFP to take up arms against the government. It’s a violation of oath to the Constitution, pero criminal po siya under the RPC (Revised Penal Code),” he added.

“I also have full trust and confidence in our Armed Forces that they will stay true to their oath, protect and uphold the constitution,” the solon noted.

For at least two congressmen, Duterte’s statement is another effort to divert public attention from the investigation into issues surrounding his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential expenses.

“This is another diversionary tactic para pagtakpan ang totoong isyu na kinahaharap ng ating bise presidente. Tingin natin sa sobrang bigat ng mga isyu ngayon ng ating Vice President, kailangan niya ng tulong ng kanyang ama… Isa lang ang masasabi natin, explain lang niya kung paano ginamit ang confidential funds, iyon na iyon,” House Assistant Majority Leader Jefferson Khonghun said.

“Isa na naman itong paglilihis sa mga issue na ipinupukol sa kanyang anak na si Bise Presidente… That is an inappropriate statement ng isang dating naging Presidente at commander in chief ng ating bansa,” House Assistant Majority Leader Raul Bongalon agreed.

House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega issued this call to Duterte.

“Huwag na sila dumagdag sa problema ng bansa. Dinidivide pa nila itong bansa natin. Lumang tugtugin na ‘yan, wala nang nakikinig,” he said.

Khonghun and Bongalon also denied the alleged kill plot against VP Duterte.

“Ang nagpapapatay po ‘yung ibang administrasyon, hindi ‘yung ngayon. ‘Yung previous administration siguro. Pero ‘yung administrasyon ngayon, we follow the rule of law,” Khonghun said.

“Walang threat or balak na ipapatay ang ating Bise Presidente,” Bongalon added.

For Atty. Salvador Panelo, Duterte merely reminded the military of its constitutional duty.

“PRRD only reminded the military of its constitutional duty to  protect the people from the internal and external attack , and from those who violate the basic charter and other laws of the land,” he said in a statement.

“PRRD did not tumultuously, by force or intimidation or by any unlawful means to attain the circumstances mentioned in Article 139 of the Revised Penal Code, like preventing the execution of any law, or prevent the national government or any of its officials exercising its or his functions, to inflict any hate or revenge upon the person or property of a public officer to commit any act of hate or revenge upon private persons or any class of persons, or to despoil any person or the government or any of its instrumentality, its properties, for political and social end,” Panelo added.

WHAT DIGONG SAID 

Ex-President Duterte said the supposed "fracture" in the government stemmed from an alleged "attempt" to change the constitution.

"Itong fracture na ito mabigat 'to because 'yung nasa taas Congress pati ang presidente, they are trying to be in cahoots. They would attempt to change the constitution…to make Martin [Romualdez] from Speaker mag-transition to a parliamentary prime minister. Ceremonial president na lang si Marcos," Duterte claimed without offering proof.

Over the weekend, Vice President Duterte also accused various government officials of corruption and claimed Speaker Martin Romualdez wanted her dead. She said she had arranged for Marcos, Romualdez, and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to be killed if that happened.

In a speech at the House of Representatives on Monday, Romualdez denied the Vice President's claim that he was behind a supposed plot against her. 

Romualdez said the younger Duterte's claims were meant to divert public attention from the House investigation into the confidential expenses of the OVP and the Department of Education in 2022 and 2023.

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'HINDI NAMAN MAKULONG 'YAN'

Ex-President Duterte said he was confident that his daughter could overcome the confidential fund use issue.

He said he was more worried about the health of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) chief of staff Zuleika Lopez, who experienced bouts of vomiting and fainting spells after a House panel ordered her transfer to the Correctional Institute for Women last Friday.

“Kay Inday wala ‘yun, kaya niya ‘yan. Hindi naman makulong ‘yan. I am more concerned doon sa kaso ni Zuleika kasi she might have suffered a heart attack,” Duterte said.

Lopez was doing “okay” on Monday, said Duterte ally Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, who visited her.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has said that Vice President Duterte is not immune from suit.

The National Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday served a subpoena for the younger Duterte to explain her alleged death threat against Marcos.