 |
| Collage photo from YouTube and CNN Philippines |
Former senator
Antonio Trillanes has condemned the arrest of a 41-year old salesman in Agusan
del Norte as he urged the police to practice “restraint and sound judgment” whole
doing their job.
Trillanes,
the ever-critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, said the arrest of a citizen for
criticizing the president is illegal under the Constitution.
“I strongly
condemn the warrantless arrest of the person who called Duterte ‘buang’ in a
social media post. That is clearly illegal and against the constitutional
guarantee of freedom of speech and of expression. Besides, telling the truth is
never libelous,” Trillanes, said in a statement
“I call on
the PNP to exercise due restraint and sound judgment in the performance of
their duty, especially in these trying times,” he added
The said
salesman was apprehended by the authorities for allegedly posting libellous
statements violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (Republic Act No.
10175).
The police
arrested Reynaldo Orcullo, 41, from Nasipit town in Agusan del Norte province
after he cursed at President Duterte in a social media post.
Earlier, a
teacher in Zambales, a construction worker in Aklan and a woman in Cebu were
also arrested after they offered a supposed reward of P50 million to P100
million for those who would kill the president.
Human
rights lawyer Chel Diokno also called out the police for coming after the
ordinary Filipinos critical of Duterte.
“Pano
aarestuhin ng PNP itong salesman na minura ang Pangulo kung Pangulo nga mismo e
minura ang senador, Santo Papa, ang Simbahan, at napakarami pang iba? Hindi
trabaho ng PNP protektahan ang Pangulo sa opinyon ng taumbayan. Ang trabaho nyo
e protektahan ang taumbayan.” Diokno said
He also
reminded the Philippine National Police (PNP) that their job is to protect the
Filipinos not the president.
Diokno also
pointed out that even the president himself has publicly criticized and cursed
the Pope and clergies.
0 Comments