Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte has pushed back against the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s intent to scrutinize statements aired during a recent protest, arguing that demonstrations critical of national leaders should not be equated with acts of sedition.
The lawmaker issued his remarks after Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the agency would review pronouncements made at the United People’s Initiative (UPI) rally, describing some of them as “close to inciting sedition.”
Duterte pointed to constitutional protections that allow Filipinos to publicly raise grievances. He cited Article III, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution, emphasizing that the guarantees of free expression and peaceful assembly are clearly spelled out.
“So Mr. Jonvic Remulla thinks rallies and criticism are ‘close to inciting sedition? Amazing. The Bill of Rights has been around since 1987—pero hanggang ngayon parang optional reading pa rin sa’yo,” Duterte said.
He then suggested that basic constitutional principles were being overlooked. “Gusto mo ba ipa-laminate namin ang Article III, Section 4 tapos i-display mo sa office mo? Para hindi ka naliligaw? Freedom of speech. Freedom of expression. Freedom to assemble. Grade school civics. Hindi lahat ng ayaw sa inyo = sedisyon. Baka naman hypersensitive lang kayo pag kayo ang tinitira,” he added.
The congressman further criticized the idea that calls for accountability could be treated as criminal acts. “Nakakatawa kayo. Konting rally, sedition. Konting tanong, sedition. Konting pag-check ng budget, sedition. Kung ganyan pala, sabihin nyo na lang diretsahan: Bawal magtanong. Bawal pumuna. Bawal mag-demand ng accountability. Martial law lang ang peg?” he said.
He also questioned whether attempts to silence dissent would ease public frustration. “Demokrasya ba ‘to, o emotional support group ng mga easily offended officials. Lastly, sa tingin niyo ba talaga mawawala ang galit ng mga Pilipino sa mga pinagagawa niyong pilit silang pinatatahimik at tinatakot? Ganyan na lang ba kababa ang tingin ninyo sa pag-iisip ng mga Pilipino? Gumising naman kayo paminsan minsan at intindihin niyo naman ang saloobin ng bawat Pilipino,” Duterte added.
Remulla’s comments were prompted by speeches from the UPI event, including a call for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to step down and for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to withdraw support from their Commander-in-Chief. The suggestion was made by Sonshine Media Network International host Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz, who referenced the military’s decision to abandon former president Joseph Estrada in 2001.
Talk of sedition-related complaints against administration critics has surfaced in previous administrations as well. During the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine National Police filed sedition and other charges in 2019 against then–vice president Leni Robredo, several senators, and other opposition figures over the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos, which accused individuals close to the president of involvement in illegal drugs.
Peter Joemel Advincula, who claims to be “Bikoy,” later said the videos were intended to undermine the Duterte administration and pave the way for Robredo to assume the presidency.
Former senator Antonio Trillanes also faced multiple cases for inciting to sedition during the same period, including one complaint filed by then Labor Undersecretary Jacinto Paras over his call for uniformed personnel not to follow President Duterte’s orders after his amnesty was revoked. Another case stemmed from a privilege speech in which Trillanes mentioned the possibility of the military using an M60 machine gun against the former president over alleged hidden assets.
