The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday categorically emphasized that there is no such thing as “fractured governance,” as claimed by former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
This statement is the agency’s response to Duterte’s recent calls for military and police intervention to protect the Constitution.
“The DOJ will never back down against insurgency or any form of lawlessness and will forever remain committed to protecting not only the Chief Executive but the entire Filipino nation as well,” assured Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
Meanwhile, Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres remarked that it is a significant disservice to the country and an insult to the working bureaucracy for the former President to portray the government as failing to deliver socio-economic assistance, health services, police protection, judicial recourse, and other services characteristic of a fully functioning democracy.
“Instigating the military to take action as a supposed ‘remedy’ is totally uncalled for and out of order. The military has no direct role in civil governance, and the former President should not attempt to provoke the military into acting as a solution to a so-called ‘fractured governance.’ Such actions may be considered seditious and legally actionable,” he said.
He also noted that only the Supreme Court can make pronouncements on the legal infirmities of actions taken by the executive and legislative branches, not by the former President.
