FORMER Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is free to exercise her freedom of expression by joining demonstrations against President Rodrigo Duterte's fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 22, Malacañang said Tuesday, July 16.

This was the remark of Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, as he brushed aside the former top magistrate's call on the public to take part in the anti-Sona rallies on July 22 to protest the President's supposed "dictatorial and unaccountable governance."

"If she will join the opposition to exercise her freedom of expression, then by all means, we will egg her to do that," Panelo told Palace reporters.

In a press conference, Sereno encouraged the public to join the so-called "United People's Sona 2019" that seeks to defend the country's "sovereignty and democracy" and the Filipinos' "well-being and livelihood."

The rally, which will serve as "powerful counterpoint to the opening of the 18th Congress and the President's Sona, will be held along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on July 22, Sereno said.

Despite Sereno's call, Panelo said "legitimate" expression of grievances by critics is welcome.

"Baka naman she wants to join the rallies. Okay lang naman sa amin ang mga rallies against this government (Perhaps, she wants to join the rallies. We won't oppose rallies against this government)," Panelo said.

"In fact, it's the President who encourages that. Because under the Constitution, legitimate grievances against the government can be freely expressed. Ang problema, 'pag ano na (that problem arises only when) you perform acts which are seditious as defined by law," he added.

For Panelo, Sereno's appeal to the public was not tantamount to inciting to sedition.

"When you incite people to hate a particular public official like the President, that's seditious, you incite them to not to follow the laws. That's seditious," he said. (SunStar Philippines)