Sedition?

It has been reported that the Justice Department led by Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. is now studying the statements made during last Friday’s inter-faith rally for the possibility of charging speakers of sedition.

Articles 139 of Title 3, Chapter One of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines states…

Art. 139. Sedition; How committed. — The crime of sedition is committed by persons who rise publicly and tumultuously in order to attain by force, intimidation, or by other means outside of legal methods, any of the following objects:

1. To prevent the promulgation or execution of any law or the holding of any popular election;

2. To prevent the National Government, or any provincial or municipal government or any public officer thereof from freely exercising its or his functions, or prevent the execution of any administrative order;

3. To inflict any act of hate or revenge upon the person or property of any public officer or employee;

4. To commit, for any political or social end, any act of hate or revenge against private persons or any social class; and

5. To despoil, for any political or social end, any person, municipality or province, or the National Government, of all its property or any part thereof.

If so, I think Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her husband, and allies are more guilty of numbers 1, 2, and 5 than the Makati rally speakers.

Furthermore, Articles 140 – 142 state that…

Art. 140. Penalty for sedition. — The leader of a sedition shall suffer the penalty of prison mayor in its minimum period and a fine not exceeding 10,000 pesos.

Other persons participating therein shall suffer the penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period and a fine not exceeding 5,000 pesos. (Reinstated by E.O. No. 187).

Art. 141. Conspiracy to commit sedition. — Persons conspiring to commit the crime of sedition shall be punished by prison correctional in its medium period and a fine not exceeding 2,000 pesos.

Art. 142. Inciting to sedition. — The penalty of prison correctional in its maximum period and a fine not exceeding 2,000 pesos shall be imposed upon any person who, without taking any direct part in the crime of sedition, should incite others to the accomplishment of any of the acts which constitute sedition, by means of speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, cartoons, banners, or other representations tending to the same end, or upon any person or persons who shall utter seditious words or speeches, write, publish, or circulate scurrilous libels against the Government of the Philippines, or any of the duly constituted authorities thereof, or which tend to disturb or obstruct any lawful officer in executing the functions of his office, or which tend to instigate others to cabal and meet together for unlawful purposes, or which suggest or incite rebellious conspiracies or riots, or which lead or tend to stir up the people against the lawful authorities or to disturb the peace of the community, the safety and order of the Government, or who shall knowingly conceal such evil practices.

So are Arroyo and her cohorts ready to face the consequences of their actions? I doubt it. Before Gonzales et al start accusing other people of sedition, maybe they should examine closely the doings of Arroyo first.