Congressman Pantaleon Alvarez of the First District of Davao del Norte denied committing sedition when he appealed to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to withdraw their support to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. “to avoid war in the West Philippine Sea.”
This was Alvarez’s response to the order released by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” C. Remulla on Tuesday for an investigation of the statements Alvarez made during the recently concluded Hakbang ng Maisug prayer rally at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City to determine whether it has risen to the level of sedition, inciting to sedition or even rebellion.
“As a former lawmaker myself, I would like to remind Congressman Alvarez to act in accordance to 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.
In a press statement, Alvarez questioned how his call for the military, could be considered seditious.
It can be recalled that during the rally, Alvarez called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to read the Constitution.
According to Alvarez, he did not read anything in the Constitution that says the AFP shall protect the commander in chief, but instead, it says the AFP shall protect the people and the state.
“Basahin ninyo ang Saligang Batas kung ano ang tungkulin ng Armed Forces of the Philippines. Wala akong makita na nakalagay sa Saligang Batas na sinasabi the AFP shall protect the commander in chief, wala po. Ang nakalagay sa Saligang Batas ay ganito” the AFP shall protect the people and the state. Pag pinayagan natin na pumutok yung giyera sa West Philippine Sea (WPS) yan ba ay pinoprotektahan natin ang taong-bayan?” he said.
Alvarez told the AFP to think about what would happen to their families if war breaks out in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“Manawagan ko sa atong mga igsoon na military, naa man mo karon sa inyong tagsa tagsa ka panimalay muhangyo ko ug bisan lima ka minuto lang. Sud-unga pag ayo ang inyong mga anak nga nagdula dula, sud-unga pag-ayo ang inyong kapikas sa kinabuhi. Unya hunahunaa nga kung mubuto ang giyera, magkagubot, kamo man gyud ang naa sa atubangan, ipaon man gyud mo didto, hunahunaa kung mawad-an mo ug kinabuhi unsay kaugmaon sa inyong mga anak? Unsay kaugmaon nga iatubang sa inyong pamilya? Luoy kaayo. DIli kaya sa gobyerno suportahan ang inyong mga anak. Busa mag-uban ta,” he said.
Meanwhile, the AFP reiterated on Monday its strict adherence to the chain of command. Under the 1987 Constitution, the President is on top of that chain of command.
