PNP sues Badoy and Quiboloy’s lawyer for sedition

Under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, one of Quiboloy’s closest allies, sedition was used to suppress critics of the government.

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) has filed charges of sedition and incitement to sedition against Apollo Quiboloy lawyer Israelto Torreon and former Gate -anti-insurgency spokesperson Lorraine Badoy.

CIDG Police Chief Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III led the filing of the complaint against Torreon, Badoy and others with the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday, October 17. Other people interviewed are:

• Éléonore Cardona
• Jeffrey Celis
• Kathleen Kaye Laurente
• Trinity Arafol
• Lord Byron Cristobal
• Joey Espina Sun
• Esteban Lava
• Jose Lim III
• Mary Dinah Fuentes

Torre explained that the respondents committed or incited sedition during the months-long arrest of Quiboloy, who faces trafficking and abuse cases.

According to the Revised Penal Code, sedition is committed by people who rise up “publicly and tumultuously” in order to prevent the government from carrying out its functions, among other things. Incitement to sedition, on the other hand, is committed by persons “without taking any direct part in the crime of sedition, who should incite others to carry out one of the acts which constitute sedition”.

“Well, Nakita ‘nyo naman. The government has issued an arrest warrant for the five fugitives and is preventing us from doing so. These are therefore specific offenses or acts…. So you are a papasok for sedition and incitement to sedition” Torre told reporters.

(Well, you saw it yourself. The government was executing an arrest warrant for the five fugitives and they stopped us. So those are the specific offenses or acts, or the acts that fall under sedition and incitement to sedition.)

Celiz, meanwhile, issued a statement in response to the PNP’s complaint: “It is my firm belief that the complaints of sedition and incitement to sedition filed by PNP General Nicolas Torre against Mr. Jeffrey Celiz and others are not only baseless and ridiculous. , but also represent a very worrying trend of harassment of dissident and democratic voices in the country today.

Quiboloy was arrested by Davao City police after a months-long manhunt and a standoff between cops and the preacher’s supporters. He is currently being held at the PNP detention center inside Camp Crame while he stands trial. Quiboloy is also wanted in the United States for child sex trafficking.

Same weapon

Under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, one of Quiboloy’s closest allies, sedition was used to suppress critics of the government.

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, one of Duterte’s fiercest critics, faced multiple charges of inciting sedition and sedition. The first case of incitement to sedition was filed after Trillanes mentioned Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth in a privilege speech, while the second was filed following Trillanes’ statements regarding his amnesty battle against Duterte.

Amid the Bikoy video controversy, where allegations were made of Duterte’s involvement in the illegal drug trade, the PNP also filed a sedition case against some opposition members, including Trillanes. A court in Quezon City has already dismissed the case in September 2023.

But besides high-ranking officials, ordinary citizens have also been accused of sedition under Duterte.

Rodel Jayme, creator of the website purporting to broadcast Bikoy’s videos, was charged with inciting sedition. In 2020, a teacher and her son were also arrested without a warrant for an allegedly “provocative” post on Facebook, after being charged with inciting sedition and disobedience to authority. – Rappler.com