Stop fear-mongering over Mindanao independence bid – Rep Alvarez

Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez (File photo from Agence France-Presse0

MANILA, Philippines — Police and military officials should stop using fear-mongering tactics, Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez, who is spearheading the breakaway movement for Mindanao independence, said on Friday.

According to Alvarez, a former House Speaker, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s call is peaceful and should not be met with violence.

READ: Mindanao in ‘toxic relationship’ with PH, must break away – Rep. Alvarez

“I salute the soldiers and the police. During Duterte’s time, their salaries were increased as a gesture of gratitude for their service, but their leaders‘ statements are wrong,” Alvarez said in Filipino in a statement.

“They could use force if what we are doing is a crime. But it’s not. There are no weapons involved. There is no public uprising that is chaotic and tumultuous. I hope they don’t scare the people. We should be for the truth and not be misleading,” he added.

On January 31, Duterte claimed that local political forces would regroup in the Davao Region to start a peaceful movement for Mindanao’s independence, which is to be headed by Alvarez.

But the Philippine National Police chief, General Benjamin Acorda, warned of “chaos” if Duterte’s call for a separate Mindanao would push through. Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the troops were for “one Philippines.”

Two former AFP chiefs under the Duterte administration also rejected the former commander-in-chief’s call.

Presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., an AFP chief in 2018, said Duterte’s call would destabilize the country.

Incumbent national security adviser Eduardo Año, an AFP chief from 2016 to 2017, said Duterte’s plan would be met with “resolute force.”

Alvarez said, however, that breakaway advocates were aiming to “resort to reason and tap the peaceful and common aspirations of the Mindanaoan people.”

“The information drive and signature campaign will be done in a peaceful manner in accordance with domestic and international law,” Alvarez said. “Violence is not part of the equation.”

He also noted that under the Revised Penal Code, rebellion requires taking up arms while sedition is committed by those rising “publicly and tumultuously” to prevent, in a forceful, intimidating, or illegal way, the execution of a law, administrative order, or a popular election; to obstruct the government or any public officer from freely performing his functions; or to inflict act of hate or revenge against a public officer or employee or their property.

According to Alvarez, their movement would not fall under the categories of these acts.

“That is a legitimate and lawful exercise of our constitutional rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and organization,” Alvarez said.

“The armed forces and the PNP are duty-bound to respect those rights. They should remember this before they say reckless things, especially since they are armed.”