Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez assured on Friday, February 9 that any calls for the secession of Mindanao would be done through a peaceful and orderly campaign. 

Alvarez made the remark after President Marcos called for a halt on calls for a secession of Mindanao from the rest of the Philippines and warning it is a “grave” violation of the Constitution.

According to the former House Speaker, the movement is committed to a peaceful, democratic, and lawful means to advocate for the welfare and rights of the people of Mindanao, particularly the right to self-determination. 

"What we intend to do is resort to reason and tap the peaceful and common aspirations of the Mindanaoan people. Legitimate and lawful exercise, yan ng aming (that is our) constitutional rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and organization,” Alvarez said in a statement.

“The Armed Forces and the PNP (Philippine National Police) are duty-bound to respect those rights. They should remember this before they say reckless things, lalo na't armado sila (especially since they are armed),” he said.

“Kahit si dating (Even former) Associate Justice Carpio ng Korte Suprema nagsalita na tungkol sa isyu na to. Ayon sa kanya, wala kaming linalabag na batas (of the Supreme has already discussed this issue. And according to him, we are not violating any law),” the lawmaker pointed out. 

Echoing former President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement, Alvarez explained that the holding of a peaceful movement cannot be categorized a criminal act.

He noted that under the Revised Penal Code, rebellion requires taking up arms, while sedition is committed by those rising “publicly and tumultuously” to prevent, in a forceful, intimidating or illegal way, the execution of a law, administrative order, or a popular election; to obstruct the government or any public officer from freely performing his functions; or to inflict act of hate or revenge against a public officer or employee or their property. 

“The information drive and signature campaign will be done in a peaceful manner in accordance with domestic and international law. Violence is not part of the equation,” the solon said.

He further said that the Mindanaoan’s aim for Mindanao is to finally be allowed to prioritize itself: “Hindi yung afterthought lang dahil iba prioridad ng national government (not because we are just an afterthought because the national government has a different priority).”

"This is about the right of people to self-determination, as recognized by domestic and international law, so that they can chart their own destiny,” Alvarez stressed.

According to Alvarez, Mindanaoans are supportive of this move, and want Mindanao to chart its own destiny. 

“We need to walk away from this toxic relationship. Please, just let us go,” he pressed.