UPI lawyers: No foreign funds used, no sedition committed in rallies

Lawyers of the United People’s Initiative (UPI) on Wednesday denied that the group committed sedition and accepted funds from foreign elements for their rallies last Sunday and Monday.

In a statement, the UPI Lawyers Group said their call for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s resignation was protected speech under Article III, Section 18 (1) of the 1987 Constitution.

“No person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and aspirations. Peaceful political expression, including calls for the resignation of the President, is fully protected under the Constitution and recognized jurisprudence,” the UPI lawyers said.

“Widespread demands for presidential resignation are part of democratic discourse, not criminal conduct,” they added.

The UPI also denied that they committed inciting to rebellion or inciting to sedition, citing Article 138 of the Revised Penal Code on Inciting to Rebellion.

They said the law punishes “only those who urge others to take arms or commit acts of rebellion under Article 134.”

“Furthermore, Article 139 (Sedition) requires a public, tumultuous uprising by force to attain certain unlawful ends,” the UPI lawyers said.

They maintained that “a peaceful appeal for resignation contains none of these elements.”

“It does not encourage armed action, violence, or any uprising by force to attain certain unlawful ends. It is simply political speech that is lawful, protected, and fundamental to democracy,” the UPI lawyers added.

They said appeals to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to uphold the Constitution, examine orders, or follow their mandate to protect the people are legitimate civic expressions and not sedition.

“The AFP is constitutionally mandated to be professional, non-partisan, and loyal to the Constitution above all. The law is clear: obedience to unlawful orders is not a defense,” the UPI lawyers said.

“Thus, urging the AFP to adhere strictly to the law is consistent with constitutional principles, not an act of sedition,” they added.

The UPI lawyers also denied reports that their rallies were foreign-funded and said the AFP’s statement was “speculative.” They also called on the AFP to refrain from issuing unverified statements.

“We also express deep concern over speculative AFP statements alleging that recent public assemblies of the UPI are financed by foreign sources. We categorically deny those claims,” the UPI lawyers said.

“Despite receiving billions in intelligence funds, the AFP has produced no documentary evidence, no identified foreign actor, no bank trail, and no verified intelligence report,” they added.

The UPI lawyers assured that they remain steadfast “in defending constitutional freedoms, the right to peaceful assembly, and the fundamental principles of democratic governance.”

“We stand by the law. We stand by the people – for in this Republic, the Constitution, not fear, governs,” they said. — JMA, GMA Integrated News