Retired Air Force general Poquiz posts bail in inciting to sedition case

Retired Air Force major general and United People’s Initiative (UPI) convenor Romeo Poquiz posted bail on Monday after he was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City in connection with an inciting to sedition case.

“Ngayon nagkaroon na ako ng release order sa judge,” Poquiz told reporters.

(The judge gave a release order for me.)

Based on the arrest warrant shared by his legal counsel, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, the bail for the sedition charge was set at P48,000. 

Poquiz was initially brought to Camp Crame for processing before being transferred to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 77, where he posted bail.

An arrest warrant was served against Poquiz upon his arrival at NAIA on Monday morning from a vacation in Bangkok, Thailand, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR) said.

Poquiz called his arrest as harassment and intimidation, claiming it was meant to silence critics of the government.

“Panggigipit ito, pangha-harass, pananakot sa ating mga mamamayang nagpapahayag ng damdamin sa matinding korapsyon sa bayan natin,” he said.

(This is harassment and intimidation of our citizens who are expressing their feelings about the rampant corruption in our country.)

The sedition case is linked to Poquiz’s alleged statements during protest actions held at the People Power Monument in Quezon City on November 16 and 17.

But Poquiz denied making seditious statements, saying that his remarks were expressions of public anger over alleged corruption.

“Hindi namin ginagawa yun sa gobyerno. Kami lamang ay nagpapahayag ng damdamin, matinding poot at galit ng mga tao,” he said.

(We don't do that to the government. We are just expressing the feelings, the intense hatred and anger of the people.)

In a statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) stressed that while freedom of expression is protected under the Constitution, it must be exercised within the bounds of the law.

“Acts that incite participation in rebellion, sedition, or other unlawful activities are punishable under Philippine law, regardless of an individual’s former position or status,” the AFP said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News