|
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Malilong: Abat and sedition
By Frank Malilong
The Other Side
Is this government so insecure as to have lost all sense of humor?
When retired general Fortunato Abat declared his “transition government” at the Club Filipino, I thought the Arroyo administration would ignore or at least tolerate his antic. After all, if people didn't believe him enough to elect him senator, why should they believe him now and validate his claim to the presidency?
The administration’s initial reaction tended to indicate they were willing to let him be. Their response was derisive. He could make a fool of himself for as long as he wanted.
Less than 24 hours later, the wind blew in the opposite direction. Cops swooped down on the seat of Abat’s new government and arrested him and three members of his official family for inciting to sedition.
No, let me correct myself. Abat and his cabinet members were not arrested, as the police would later clarify. They were invited. In fact, said one officer, they were served Japanese food for lunch on their first day as guests and a variety of Filipino dishes the next day.
Very gracious hosts, the police are. So hospitable were they that they would not allow them to go home until they posted bail. (This reminds me of a suggestion by a friend during our college days to open the door to our play, free of charge, in order to boost attendance and collect only an exit fee.)
Sedition is a crime against public order “committed by persons who rise publicly and tumultuously.” Webster defines tumult as “the commotion, disturbance of a multitude; an uproar; turbulence; hubbub; any violent commotion or agitation, as of the mind.” A multitude connotes a large number of people.
The Department of Justice said Abat and company incited the people to sedition because, citing the dangerous tendency rule, “the words uttered or published could easily produce dissatisfaction among the people and a state of feeling in them incompatible with a disposition to remain loyal to the government and obedient to the laws.”
But haven’t we been dissatisfied with this government long before Abat thought of holing himself in Casino Filipino? Do we really need anyone or anything more to make us think how better our lives would have been if not for this government?
A blast from the past, Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas described the dangerous tendency rule in an article in the Inquirer yesterday.
DOJ prosecutors should read that article. When it comes to constitutional law, we are not fit to even tie the straps of Fr. Bernas’ shoes.
(December 18, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
