Former Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales, who is running for president in the May 9 elections, claimed there is no “specific law” defining and addressing the crime of rebellion in the Philippines.
This lacks context.
STATEMENT
During the Feb. 15 presidential debate organized by Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) News, Gonzales responded to a question on what he would do, if elected, to “end terrorist acts that … kill innocent people” in the country.
He said in part:
“Ang problema natin wala tayong specific na batas para sa rebellion. Tinanggal natin ‘yan. Kaya ‘yung nangyari sa batang napatay, ang kaso na ‘yan ay magiging kriminal … ‘Yan ang unang step kasi wala tayong batas tungkol sa rebellion.”
Source: The Manila Times, The SMNI Presidential Debate, Feb. 15, 2022, watch from 3:30:27 to 3:30:50 and 3:33:55 to 3:34:58
(Our problem is that there is no specific law for rebellion. We abolished it. That is why what happened to the kid who was killed, that case will be [treated as a] criminal [case] … That is the first step because we do not have a law on rebellion.)
Gonzales, who served as secretary of National Defense and National Security Adviser under then-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was referring to the June 2021 death of collegiate athlete Keith Absalon in a roadside explosion in Masbate. The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), had taken “full responsibility” for the incident.
The former security official repeated his claim later on in the debate when asked if he views the CPP-NPA-NDF (National Democratic Front) as a “friend or foe.” He said:
“Sorry, ako, kaaway. Pero wala tayong batas na nagde-define kung paano natin titignan o bibigyan ng solusyon ang ganitong klaseng kaaway (CPP-NPA-NDF). Wala tayong batas tungkol sa rebelyon. Kailangan magkameron (sic) – maging maayos ang usapan diyan.”
Source: watch from 3:48:18 to 3:48:34 and 3:50:21 to 3:50:46
(Sorry, for me, foe. We don’t have a law that defines how to look at or address such an enemy. We don’t have a law on rebellion. We should have one – discussions on this should straighten it out.)
FACT
While there is, indeed, no specific law on rebellion, the criminal act has been defined and made punishable under the Revised Penal Code (RPC), as amended by Republic Act 6968 in 1990.
Read the full story on VERA Files Fact Check.
