Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767576964355viber_image_2026-01-05_09-19-06_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>📷༘ Courtesy of PNP-CIDG</em></span></span></span> MANILA <strong>(2nd UPDATE</strong>) — Police on Monday arrested former Philippine Air Force general Romeo Poquiz over an inciting to sedition case linked to his alleged role in a destabilization plot against the government.</div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/3/philippine-military-chief-says-rejected-calls-to-oust-marcos-1750">Philippine military chief says rejected calls to oust Marcos</a></div><p>Authorities said the complaint stemmed from a rally held in November at the People Power Monument, allegedly organized by Poquiz’s group, where he was accused of urging members of the armed forces to rise up against the government.</p><p>Poquiz was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Monday morning upon his arrival from Bangkok, Thailand.</p><p>His lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, condemned the arrest, claiming police violated Poquiz’s rights by preventing his legal team from conferring with him at the airport.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/18/afp-probes-unusual-funding-behind-upi-rally-eyes-possible-foreign-support-1628">AFP probes ‘unusual’ funding behind UPI rally, eyes possible foreign support; organizers object</a></div><p>“Kanina sa airport, repeatedly we demanded that the police respect our rights as lawyers to confer with our client. Pero hindi kami pinagbigyan, biglang itinakbo rito. So we will make the people responsible to be held to account for the violation of the rights of our client,” Topacio said.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767593320066photo-collage.png (1).png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Poquiz was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Monday morning upon his arrival from Bangkok, Thailand. 📸 Ferdinand Topacio via Karen de Guzman, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>Topacio further argued that the arrest was meant to intimidate critics of the Marcos administration, saying Poquiz was being used as an example to discourage dissent.</p><p>“Very obvious na tinatakot ng administrasyon na ito ang kanyang mga kritiko. Ito ay ginawang sample si General Poquiz na kapag ikaw ay nagsalita laban sa gobyernong ito, ito ang sasapitin mo. Ikaw ay aarestuhin, hindi ka papakausap sa abogado mo at iha-harass ka at magsa-suffer ka pati ang iyong pamilya,” he added.</p><p>The defense team said it is preparing to file administrative and possible criminal complaints against the police officers who served the arrest warrant.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;THEY WERE NOT AROUND&#x27;</strong></div><p>However, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–National Capital Region chief Col. John Guiagui denied the allegations, saying Poquiz’s lawyers were not present at the time of the arrest.</p><p>“Doon sa liaison officer ni General Poquiz, hinahanap ko ‘yung abogado. Kaso, they are not around during that time. At kami, andyan na ‘yung eroplano, dumating na si General Poquiz, we have to go up para i-serve ‘yung warrant,” Guiagui explained.</p><p>He maintained that police followed proper procedures, including serving the warrant upon Poquiz’s arrival, reading him his Miranda rights, informing him of the charges, and documenting the arrest.</p><p>The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also reiterated that the arrest of Poquiz was carried out in accordance with the law.</p><p>In a statement, AFP Public Information Office chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad underscored that the arrest reflects the primacy of the rule of law and the authority of established legal institutions.</p><p>“The AFP reiterates that while freedom of expression is protected by the Constitution, it must be exercised within legal bounds,”  Trinidad said.</p><p>Meanwhile, acting Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said there was no personal motive behind the arrest, stressing that police were merely enforcing the law.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/14/afp-verifying-involvement-of-active-duty-soldier-in-alleged-destabilization-1429">‘No coup, no junta’: AFP verifying involvement of active-duty soldier in alleged destabilization</a></div><p>AFP chief-of-staff General Romeo Brawner earlier said he and his military &quot;battle staff&quot; met with a group of retired military officers led by Poquiz, a vocal Marcos critic, who aired their grievances, mainly due to alleged corruption in the incumbent government. <strong>—With reports from Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QxFCKnvDM8Y?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pdx3b4gJanI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Police on Monday arrested retired Maj. Gen. Romeo Poquiz of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) over an inciting to sedition case in relation to his alleged role in a destabilization plot against the government.</p>

Police on Monday arrested retired Maj. Gen. Romeo Poquiz of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) over an inciting to sedition case in relation to his alleged role in a destabilization plot against the government.

​Retired military officer arrested over sedition raps

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​Retired military officer arrested over sedition raps

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 05, 2026 09:41 AM PHT

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Updated Jan 05, 2026 06:54 PM PHT

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Romeo Poquiz

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Retired military officer arrested over sedition raps

Retired military officer arrested over sedition raps