PNP mulls holding Alvarez liable for sedition

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is studying if Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez can be held liable for inciting to sedition after the lawmaker urged the military to withdraw its support for President Marcos.

“Our legal officers and other concerned units will study if those statements may be considered as seditious statements, but for now, we won’t get into that matter yet,” PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said in a phone interview with reporters.

In his remarks before constituents during a prayer rally in Tagum City last Sunday, Alvarez urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to withdraw their support for Marcos to force the Chief Executive to step down.

Fajardo appealed to sectors not to drag the PNP into their calls of withdrawal of support for Marcos as she stressed that the police organization remains loyal to the duly constituted authorities and the 1987 Constitution.

Fajardo said the PNP does not want to be caught in the middle of political statements, noting that elected officials should be respected.

“The PNP remains focused on its mandate,” she added.

Meanwhile, Marcos’ allies in the House of Representatives yesterday called on Alvarez – an ally and close friend of former president Rodrigo Duterte – to be more responsible and circumspect in his tirades against the current administration.

“The remarks of former speaker is uncalled for. That is tantamount to an act of sedition or rebellion. Now is not the time to be divisive when our country is trying to promote our country to be an investment haven to foreign investors,” Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel said, referring to Alvarez’s provocations to the AFP to withdraw support for their commander-in-chief.

“Instead, we should all unite and give our support to PBBM (Marcos’ initials) with his effort for economic reforms,” Pimentel added.

Pimentel served as deputy speaker under the two-year House leadership of Alvarez, who is also an ally of Vice President Sara Duterte, with whom he had a falling out in mid-2018.

Pimentel also served as chairman of the House committee on good governance and public accountability during the term of