PNP to see if ex-Pres. Duterte’s camp may be held liable for sedition

In this file photo taken on Jan. 12, 2017, former President Rodrigo Duterte chats with then House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez at his birthday celebration in the New Tagum City Hall in Davao del Norte. (File photo by ROBINSON NIÑAL JR. / Presidential Photographers Division)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday that it will study whether or not former speaker and Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez’ call for the withdrawal of support to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. may be considered a “seditious statement.”

In a phone patch interview, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said they would look into Alvarez’s remarks.

“Pag-aaralan po natin yan ng ating legal officers ang concerned agencies if those statements will be considered as seditious statement. Pero for now po, hindi po tayo muna hahantong sa ganyang usapin,” Fajardo told reporters.

(Our legal officers will study the agencies concerned… if those statements will be considered seditious. But for now, we will not reach that kind of conversation.)

During a rally held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte on Sunday evening, former President Rodrigo Duterte and his camp expressed their opposition to the government’s ongoing push for the Charter change and how the Marcos administration handles the country’s affairs.

For his part, Alvarez made the call in which he said would force Marcos to step down from the country’s highest post.

“We don’t have to hurt each other. We don’t have to fire a single shot. Simple lang. Sa mapayapang paraan, please withdraw your support to the chief executive,” the congressman said.

(It is simple. In a peaceful way, please withdraw your support to the chief executive.)

“Pag nag-withdraw kayo ng support sa kanya, ibig sabihin, sinusuportahan nyo ang probisyon ng Saligang Batas to protect the people and the state,” he said.

(If you withdraw your support to him, it means you support the provision in the Constitution protecting the people and the state.)

Pag nag-withdraw kayo ng support, wala na siya magagawa kung ‘di bababa sa pwesto nya,” he added.

(If you withdraw your support, Marcos will have no choice but to step down.)

Duterte and his camp have been expressing their dissatisfaction with the current administration’s actions since January of this year.

According to the former president, local political forces would be regrouping within the region to start a movement for a separate and independent Mindanao.

He added that the separation won’t be bloody and will follow processes established by the United Nations.

Alvarez, who is spearheading the breakaway movement, said that Mindanao is in a “toxic relationship” with the Philippines and should break up with it.

He also pointed out that the country is now a “sinking ship” due to a lack of reforms and budgetary troubles.

In response, two Mindanao officials, Camiguin Governor Xavier Romualdo and Camiguin Representative Jurdin Romualdo, said that Duterte and his camp might be held criminally liable for sedition following the former chief executive’s secession talks.