Alvarez on call for AFP to withdraw support: How is it seditious?

Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez on Tuesday denied committing sedition when he appealed to the military to withdraw their support from President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to avoid the escalation of tension in the West Philippine Sea.

In a press statement, Alvarez questioned how his call for the military, which he made during a rally in Tagum City on Sunday night, could be considered seditious when he was not talking about force or armed uprising.

"Paano naging seditious o disorderly conduct 'yung sinabi ko eh peaceful nga at orderly. Meron dissatisfaction sa AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines)," he said.

(How is my statement considered seditious or disorderly when it was peaceful and orderly? There's dissatisfaction in the AFP.)

Alvarez clarified that he did not call for an armed conflict or public uprising, and that his call did not involve force or intimidation.

"At kung sasabihin man 'outside of legal' yung 'means,' bakit bawal ba mag-resign ang mga sundalo bilang withdrawal of support kung hindi na sila naniniwala sa direksyon ng liderato? Karapatan din nila 'yan, constitutionally protected rights 'yan," Alvarez said.

(When they say that the means is illegal, why, can't soldiers resign as a show of withdrawal of support if they no longer believe in the direction of the leaders? That's their right and it is constitutionally protected.)

Alvarez stressed that under the Constitution, the AFP "is the protector of the people and the State."

During Sunday's rally in Tagum City, Alvarez appealed to the military organization to withdraw support from Marcos.

"Nakikiusap ako sa inyo. 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," he said.

(I am appealing to you. We don't have to hurt each other. We don't have to fire a single shot. It’s simple, in a peaceful way. Please withdraw your support to the Chief Executive.)

'Tantamount to sedition'

Alvarez's call did not sit well with some of his colleagues at the House of Representatives, with one calling it seditious.

"That's tantamount to sedition. We cannot countenance that," said Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez in an interview with reporters.

"We have regularly elected officials of our country and the President was elected with a big majority. He has the support of our people. Calling for a putschist or rebellion by the soldiers is uncalled for, to say the least," he added.

Despite Alvarez's claim that his statement was not seditious, Rodriguez said such call could result in a conflict.

"When you ask for a withdrawal of support, then there will be a conflict because those who will heed his advise and withdraw support, the others who are supporting the president will have to come in also and enforce the law," he said, adding that Alvarez's statement was "uncalled for."

"[It's] uncalled for especially from an elected official in the House of Representatives to be calling for a withdrawal of support. That is really rebellion. That is really seditious that they will withdraw support to our incumbent President who has the mandate of the people to govern our country," Rodriguez said.

Ethics panel probe?

When asked if Alvarez's call could be considered "disorderly behavior," Rodriguez replied, "If others minded, then that can be a basis for a complaint in the ethics committee. So we will have the ethics committee decide based on their evaluation of the matter."

As for a possible sedition charges against Alvarez, Rodriguez said, "That is a criminal offense and it is for the DOJ (Department of Justice) to evaluate."

Leyte Representative Richard Gomez, for his part, is also leaving it to the House Committee on Ethics to decide whether or not to investigate Alvarez.

"Former Speaker Alvarez is a friend of mine but to actually ask the Philippine Army or the AFP to withdraw support to the President is not a good call. I will not submit to that. We as a citizen and the AFP as an agency under Philippine government will have to support its president fully," Gomez told reporters in a separate ambush interview.

Love for PH

Alvarez, meanwhile, asked for understanding for his remarks, saying he just got carried away by his emotions.

"Pasensiya na, nadala rin ng bugso ng damdamin. Mahal ko ang Pilipinas, lalo na ang Mindanao. At paano ako tatahimik? Tingnan niyo nangyayari. Kinakaladkad tayo ng Malacañang papunta sa digmaan kahit na ang China ay mauunahan na ang Amerika pagdating sa ekonomiya, teknolohiya, at lakas militar. Hindi 'yan katanggap-tanggap. May nuclear weapons sila, kaya nila magpaputok at hindi tayo makakapalag. Maraming Pilipino ang mamamatay. Ubos tayo," he explained.

(Forgive me, I was carried away by my emotions. I love the Philippines, especially Mindanao. How can I stay silent? Look at what's happening. Malacañang is dragging us to war with China, which is about to overtake America when it comes to economy, technology and military might. That's unacceptable. They have nuclear weapons that they can use against us. Many Filipinos will die.) 

Amid Alvarez's call, the AFP on Monday said its loyalty remains with the 1987 Constitution.

In a statement, AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said the military "reiterates its unwavering commitment to professionalism, loyalty to the Constitution, and strict adherence to the Chain of Command."

"Our soldiers, pilots, sailors, and marines remain dedicated to our mandate of safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Philippines, regardless of any political affiliations or individuals in authority," she said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News