Police arrested a retired military general who was accused of encouraging active soldiers to withdraw support from President Marcos amid the allegations of widespread corruption, particularly on flood control.

Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr., acting chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said Poquiz was collared based on the arrest warrant issued by the Branch 77 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court for a case of inciting to sedition.

“A case had been referred against him for inciting to sedition and an arrest warrant was issued against him on December 5, so we implemented it,” said Nartatez in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

Poquiz came from a vacation with his family in Thailand when the arrest warrant was served by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Aviation Security Group past 8 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 5.

The case stemmed from allegations that he was at the forefront of the move to oust Marcos by actively talking with active military officers.

It was recalled that the CIDG started conducting an investigation against some high-profile personalities over allegations that they were behind the riot in Manila during the first Trillion Peso march on Sept. 21 last year.

Poquiz, a retired Air Force officer with a rank of major general, underwent booking procedures after his arrest and is expected to be presented to the court which issued the arrest warrant. The case is a bailable offense.

Poquiz lawyers criticized the police over the arrest but Nartatez said the legal process was observed during the implementation.

“This case underwent the legal process. The case was investigated and pieces of evidence were referred and forwarded to the prosecution, and the court found probable cause,” said Nartatez.

“This was a result of the work of the prosecution service and now, he will be tried. That’s the process, there’s nothing personal,” he emphasized.

Nartatez said the arrest of Poquiz should serve as a reminder the country has a due process that must be followed amid allegations that the group of the latter was attempting to disregard the Constitution and rule of law.

On the part of the PNP, he said upholding the Constitution and the duly-constituted authorities is also a must.

And part of that, he said, is to implement the law that includes orders of the court, “If there is a basis for the referral of a case that you have committed against this law, what the PNP will do of course is to implement it without fear or favor.” (with report from Ariel Fernandez)