DOJ: Duterte's call on military 'bordering on sedition'

The Department of Justice will investigate the remarks of former President Rodrigo Duterte who in a news conference on Monday night called on the military to solve what he called "fractured governance" under President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.

Justice Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres said Duterte's words may be considered seditious and that these should be looked into in the context of Vice President Sara Duterte's own recent pronouncements.

"For him to invite the military to have a part in seeking remedy is bordering on sedition and is legally actionable," Andres told reporters.

"'Yung pong mga pananalita ng dating Pangunong Duterte ay iimbestigahan din natin kasabay ng ibang mga nangyayari ngayong mga panahon," he added.

“We will have to look at every angle. The threat issued by the VP is something that should also be factored in, whether this is really part & parcel of a bigger plan for destabilization,” Andres said.

Andres said the government was prepared for any contingency.

"And the Armed Forces of the Philippines is a professional organization that is loyal to the chain of command," Andres said.

'Fractured governance'

Duterte on Monday night said only the military could "correct" what he called the "fractured governance" under Marcos, whom he called "a drug addict."

He also mentioned Speaker Martin Romualdez, a cousin of Marcos.

“Nobody can correct Marcos, nobody can correct Romualdez… It is only the military who can correct it,” Duterte said in a press conference.

Duterte asked the military if it would continue to support Marcos if it knew he was a “drug addict.”

“Hanggang kailan kayo mag suporta ng drug addict na presidente?” Duterte asked.

(Until when will you support an addict president?)

Sought for comment on the allegations of sedition, former Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said Duterte’s statements did not constitute a crime.

“Former President Duterte only reminded the military of its constitutional duty to  protect the people from the internal and external attack, and from those who violate the basic charter and other laws of the land," Panelo told GMA News Online.

'No sedition'

Panelo said Duterte did not tumultuously, by force or intimidation or by any unlawful means to attain the circumstances mentioned in Article 139 of the Revised Penal Code.

These include preventing the execution of any law, or prevent the national government or any of its officials exercising its or his functions, to inflict any hate or revenge upon the person or property of a public officer to commit any act of hate or revenge upon private persons or any class of persons, or to despoil any person or the government or any of its instrumentality, its properties, for political and social end.

"His reminder to the military of its duty under the Constitution to protect the people is part of the freedom of speech,” Panelo said.

Members of the House of Representatives have criticized Duterte for his remarks addressed to the military and against Marcos.

1-Rider party list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, a lawyer, said ,“It is inciting to sedition because they're calling on the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to take up arms against the government.”

“But at this point, I'm not sure if it should even be dignified with a serious consideration because this is just a smokescreen to the issues confronting the Vice President," he added.

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability is investigating the disbursement of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education when Sara Duterte was the secretary.

" Also, I have full trust and confidence in our Armed Forces that they will stay true to their oath to protect and uphold the Constitution,” Gutierrez said.

Ako Bicol party-list lawmaker Raul Bongalon said the former President was just sowing chaos.

 “That is an inappropriate statement because that is not a call for peace and unity. You want chaos to reign in our country,” Bongalon added. —NB, GMA Integrated News