Former president Rodrigo Duterte (left), Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez (Malacañang photo, Facebook)

A mindanao congressman and his governor-son believe that former president Rodrigo Duterte and Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez could be held criminally liable for sedition for their contentious and divisive secession movement. 

Slamming the former president and House Speaker duo on Sunday, Feb. 4 were Camiguin lone district Rep. Jurdin Jesus "JJ" Romualdo and Camiguin Governor Xavier Jesus "XJ" Romualdo. 

The Romualdos were referring to Duterte and Alvarez's apparent proposal to separate Mindanao from the rest of the Philippines. 

“Whether it’s his fear of possible prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC), or to be politically relevant again, or whatever his reason is, the former president is toying with dangerous proposals for selfish interests and self-preservation,” the Romualdos said in a joint statement. 

According to them, the proposal and subsequent actions by Duterte and Alvarez on the separation of Mindanao from the Republic of the Philippines are seditious and in violation of the 1987 Constitution. 

The Charter explicitly protects the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Philippines, prohibiting any form of secession or division, they stressed. 

They added that Camiguin, an island-province in Northern Mindanao, is vehemently opposed to Duterte’s "self-serving plan to divide the nation". 

And if Mindanao continues to be in a sorry state, then Duterte and Alvarez need to look at themselves in the mirror, said the governor. 

ALSO READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/2/2/youth-solon-tells-duterte-you-don-t-own-mindanao

“I served three terms in Congress. Two of those terms were during the Duterte presidency. And I served under five speakers, including former Speaker Alvarez. Of the five, Alvarez was the most forceful and powerful. Of course, everyone knows how powerful former President Duterte was during his term. Both are from Mindanao," he said. 

"They should thus answer for their complaints about the state of Mindanao. If things are as bad as they say, why is it that way when you ruled the country for six years? What were you doing when you were at the helm?” asked the younger Romualdo. 

He further claimed that Duterte and Alvarez were "engaging in dangerous antics and stunts to distract and divide the nation for their own interests".