Dennis Gaviola

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Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Retired Air Force Major General Romeo Poquiz on Monday questioned why individuals who express criticism against the government are arrested, while those accused of large-scale corruption remain free.</p><p>Poquiz raised the issue following <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/5/-retired-military-officer-arrested-over-sedition-raps-0941">his arrest</a>, which he said stemmed from statements he made expressing dissatisfaction with the current administration. </p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:560px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;text-align:center"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:560px;height:315px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2008101803897086061&amp;lang=en&amp;maxWidth=560px&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-01-05T10%3A55%3A50.718148%3A6c8a82f4-d0fa-453b-8594-37b443579b9b%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=cef7af9e726ea8bc10bd44e57c10a7e3c1f5da48&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="2008101803897086061"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>He said he understood that the arrest was carried out by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) as part of their duties, but questioned the basis of the charges filed against him and others like him.</p><p>“Ang hindi natin maintindihan at kinababahala natin ay bakit ako? Bakit ‘yung mga taong nagpapahayag ng mga damdamin, nagpo-protesta dahil dito sa mga matinding kurapsyon na ito, ay kinakasuhan, pinahuhuli, inaarestong tulad ko?” Poquiz said.</p><p>He argued that authorities should instead focus on individuals allegedly involved in massive corruption, particularly those accused of stealing billions of pesos intended for public projects such as flood control.</p><p>Poquiz also denied accusations that his statements amounted to inciting sedition, stressing that he and his group were not calling for the overthrow of the government.</p><p>“Hindi ho namin ginagawa ‘yun sa gobyerno. Kami lamang ay nagpapahayag ng damdamin, matinding poot, galit ng mga tao,” he said, adding that these sentiments are also felt by ordinary citizens, as well as members of the police and military.</p><p>He said their group, United People’s Initiative, would continue to speak out against what they describe as widespread corruption in the country, expressing disappointment that no officials have yet been held accountable.</p><p>“Kasi nga, inaasahan natin na bago mag-Pasko, mayroong mga makukulong, mayroong mga mapapanagot. Pero sa ngayon, wala pa,” Poquiz said.</p><p>Despite the recent arrest, Poquiz said the group would continue to sustain their activities, stressing that they represent the sentiments of ordinary Filipinos seeking accountability and justice.</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><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IGPbIfx8r4U?si=c8x1n6GiA2ITqJ4Z" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Retired Air Force Major General Romeo Poquiz on Monday questioned why individuals who express criticism against the government are arrested, while those accused of large-scale corruption remain free.</p>

Retired Air Force Major General Romeo Poquiz on Monday questioned why individuals who express criticism against the government are arrested, while those accused of large-scale corruption remain free.

Retired military officer Poquiz questions arrest over criticism vs. corruption cases

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Retired military officer Poquiz questions arrest over criticism vs. corruption cases

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 05, 2026 07:20 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 05, 2026 07:51 PM PHT

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PNP

Romeo Poquiz

arrest

sedition

destabilization

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