CICC files inciting to sedition, rebellion raps vs. Isabela vice mayor Respicio

Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Executive Director Renato "Aboy" Paraiso on Friday filed a complaint against Isabela Vice Mayor Jeryll Harold Respicio with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for allegedly inciting the public to sedition and rebellion.

In a press briefing, NBI Director Melvin Matibag cited a transcription of Respicio's remarks at an event, where he asked his audience if they were willing to revolt.

"Ito ang tanong na seryoso, kapag hindi na gumagana ang foundational principle ng ating Constitution na demokrasya, ano ang sagot? Rebolusyon. Tapos sabi ni Atty. Respicio, rebolusyon. Tapos sabi ni Atty. Respicio, rebolusyon… baliwaalin natin ang Konstitusyon, 'di ba? So willing ba kayo magrebolusyon? Sumagot 'yung audience, oo. Willing ba kayo mamatay? Oo," Matibag said.

(This is the serious question: when the foundational principle of our Constitution, democracy, no longer works, what is the answer? Revolution. Then Atty. Respicio said, revolution… let us disregard the Constitution, right? So are you willing to revolt? The audience answered, yes. Are you willing to die? Yes.)

"Kapag tinignan mo 'yung mga crimes nu'ng elements na binanggit namin, andoon lahat eh. Pasok lahat. At isa siyang abugado, so hindi rin maalis dito na maaari din siyang kasuhan ng disbarment," he added.

(If you look at the elements of the crimes we mentioned, everything is there. Everything fits. And he is a lawyer, so it also cannot be ruled out that he may face disbarment charges.)

GMA News Online has asked Respicio for comment, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

Paraiso later said the CICC will file a disbarment case against Respicio "sooner rather than later."

Meanwhile, he said authorities are also looking into Respicio's other Facebook posts.

According to Matibag, the complaint is for inciting to sedition, rebellion, unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances.

Matibag said the NBI will issue a subpoena to Respicio.

"After that, we will make a recommendation. And eventually, kung ano 'yung findings, we'll file a complaint to the Department of Justice," he said.

(After that, we will make a recommendation. And eventually, depending on the findings, we'll file a complaint with the Department of Justice.)

Matibag also stressed that individuals may promote their political preference without encouraging the public to raise their arms.

"Okay lang naman, you promote your political preference, but you don't encourage people to raise arms against the government. Hindi naman tama 'yun," he said.

(It's okay to promote your political preference, but you should not encourage people to take up arms against the government. That is not right.)

Meanwhile, Paraiso said the complaint does not seek to suppress the right to freedom of expression.

"Pero gaya nga ho ng sinabi ni Director Melvin, ang threshold ho nito, kapag lumampas na 'yung rights nila of expression and crossing the boundaries, ito na inciting to sedition, inciting to rebellion, 'yung mga cybercrimes na ho natin," Paraiso said.

(But as Director Melvin said, the threshold is when their right to expression goes beyond the boundaries and becomes inciting to sedition, inciting to rebellion, and the cybercrimes.) — VDV, GMA News