Alvarez faces sedition probe

Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez TMT FILE PHOTO

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday ordered a probe into Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez’s call for the military to withdraw its support for the President to determine if the congressman is liable for sedition, inciting to sedition or even rebellion.

Alvarez made the call during a political rally on Sunday in Tagum City, saying the way President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was handling the West Philippine Sea dispute with China could lead the country into war.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) could bring peace and stability to the nation if it withdrew its support for Marcos, Alvarez said.

“As a former lawmaker myself, I would like to remind Congressman Alvarez to act in accordance with the highest standards of ethics, morality, and nationalism and avoid remarks unbecoming of a member of the House of Representatives,” Remulla said in a statement on Tuesday.

Alvarez, a longtime supporter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, defended his call by saying he was exercising his right to free speech.

He also asked how his statement was seditious after his colleagues in the House of Representatives sought to have him charged with the offense.

“Why? Are soldiers prohibited from resigning as a way of withdrawing their support when they no longer believe in the direction being taken by the leadership?” he said in Filipino.

The AFP rejected Alvarez’s call.

Alvarez on Tuesday asked for understanding, saying he got carried away because he loves the country, especially Mindanao.

“How can I stay silent? Look at what’s happening. Malacañang is dragging us to war,” he said in Filipino.

House leaders, however, called for Alvarez to be charged as they condemned his call for the military to withdraw its support for the President.

On Tuesday, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., and Deputy Speaker David Suarez said Alvarez’s remarks were “not only divisive but also dangerous.”

“Former speaker Alvarez’s irresponsible remarks are not only seditious but also undermine the stability of our government and the rule of law. We cannot allow such reckless behavior to go unchecked,” Dalipe, representative of Zamboanga City’s 2nd District, said.

“As leaders, we must uphold the rule of law and respect the democratic process. His call for the withdrawal of support from the duly elected President with an overwhelming mandate from 31 million Filipinos is a direct attack on our democratic institutions,” said Gonzales, representative of Pampanga’s 3rd District.

Suarez, representative of Quezon province’s 2nd District, added: “We must stand firm against any attempts to undermine the duly-elected government.”

The House leaders called for Alvarez to be charged.

“We urge the appropriate authorities to take swift and decisive action against former Speaker Alvarez to uphold the integrity of our institutions and protect the democratic process,” Dalipe said.

Also on Tuesday, House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun called for swift legal action against Alvarez.

“Former speaker Alvarez must be held accountable for his actions, and charges should be filed against him to ensure that justice is served,” Khonghun said.

Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the AFP “must always remain apolitical.”

Futile

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Tuesday that Alvarez’s attempts to dissuade the Armed Forces from protecting the country’s interests in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) would be futile.

In a statement, Teodoro said the AFP is firmly committed to upholding the Constitution under the administration of President Marcos.

“Any attempt to sway them away from this duty or to patronize them to support a partisan agenda is futile, particularly when this agenda dovetails with a foreign interest contrary to our own national interests,” Teodoro said.

“Calls for them to withdraw support will not amount to anything but to a possible criminal investigation,” he added.

Alvarez is a Philippine Navy reservist with a lieutenant colonel rank.

“If Alvarez was found to have committed a grave violation of the reservist policy, he could be removed from the list of reserve officers,” an officer said on condition of anonymity.

Also on Tuesday, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III appealed to Alvarez to insulate the armed forces from politics.

The senator said the country’s leadership “should not be determined or left to be determined by the armed forces or any armed group.”

“Let us insulate our armed forces from politics so that they can develop into a more professional, disciplined, and inspired group,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel also urged House members not to file charges against Alvarez “to uphold and strengthen the right to free speech.”

“Let the people speak out. Do not deter or scare them from speaking out their sentiments on important issues,” he said.

WITH FRANCISCO TUYAY AND BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO