By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — Former president of Integrated Bar of the Philippines and constitutional law expert Atty. Domingo Cayosa said on Wednesday (April 17, 2024) that Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez should be held accountable after he urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines to withdraw their support to the President.
“Dapat lang ‘wag palampasin [and] to hold accountable ‘yung nagsalita, lalong-lalo na hindi siya ordinaryong tao kung hindi halal na kongresista,” Cayosa said in a radio interview.
However, the law expert said that it would be difficult to convict Alvarez of inciting to sedition under Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code as he used the words “peacefully withdraw.”
“Tama lang na imbestigahan, whether or not ‘yung kanyang sinabi is swak na swak na inciting to sedition,” Cayosa said.
“‘Yung pananalita niya was measured, sinabi niya ‘peacefully’ withdraw, ‘pag ganoon ho kasi hindi na sedition ‘yan, kasi ang sedition kasi ang sedition should be public uprising at tumultuous,” he added.
Earlier, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered an investigation into Alvarez for the words he uttered against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Alvarez made the call during a political rally in Tagum City in Davao which former PBBM Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez also attended.
(el Amigo/MNM)
