Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gibo Teodoro on Friday warned that protesters calling for a so-called “government reset” during the November 30 anti-corruption demonstrations may face arrest and possible charges for inciting to sedition.
“That’s totally illegal. That’s inciting to sedition. What you cannot do directly, you cannot do indirectly in the law. So, when you say, ‘withdrawal of support’ it’s an indirect way of saying ‘I’ll take over’ which is illegal,” Teodoro said in a media interview on November 28.
He added that calls for a “reset” suggest motives beyond legitimate demands for transparency.
“May motibo ‘yong mga ‘yon. If you’re pushing for accountability and transparency, you’ll push for justice. A ‘reset’ is something else,” Teodoro noted.
The Defense chief stressed that expressing outrage over wrongdoing is lawful and should not be mistaken as destabilization.
“The airing out or voicing out of outrage over anomalies is not destabilizing,” he said.
Earlier, on November 17, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla similarly warned that the government will investigate protesters calling for “Marcos Resign” and for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to withdraw support from the administration.
“That’s close to inciting to sedition, so i-investigate namin sila. [Ang] mga ganitong salita has no place in a civil society,” Remulla said.
He emphasized that while free speech is protected, it carries responsibilities.
“Freedom of expression comes with a sense of responsibility, so calling an active citizen is not pertaining, it’s dangerous to the state. So ’yong mga ganiyan, every citizen is accorded the right to free speech, but they must have the corresponding responsibility to behave in all civility,” he added.
Around 300,000 people are expected to participate in the November 30 “Trillion Peso March,” while the Philippine National Police (PNP) will deploy 15,097 personnel across Metro Manila for public safety.