Students, faculty, and administrators of La Salle schools protested the sedition charges leveled against Vice President Leni Robredo and other members of the opposition through a unity statement published by the student organization alliance, One La Salle for Human Rights and Democracy (OLFHRD), last July 21.
The statement highlighted the implication of De La Salle Philippines (DLSP) President Br. Armin Luistro FSC and former DLSU College of Law Dean Chel Diokno as among the 36 respondents in the said raps.
‘Bringing down the President’
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), which filed the complaint, claimed that the respondents intended to “agitate the general population into making a mass protest” to possibly “[bring] down the President” and allow Robredo to take over.
The complaint was filed in relation to the Ang Totoong Narcolist videos, where an anonymous individual under the alias of Bikoy linked President Rodrigo Duterte’s associates to the illegal drug trade. The series was said to have been part of a destabilization plot organized by administration critics.
From the affidavit of Peter Advincula, who claimed to be Bikoy, the CIDG thus lodged the case against opposition figures for inciting to sedition, cyber libel, libel, estafa, and obstruction of justice.
Advincula, however, first publicly expressed in a press conference at the office of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines that he wanted to sue former presidential aide turned Senator Bong Go and presidential son Paolo Duterte for their supposed involvement in a drug syndicate. But he later retracted his statements and called them fabricated after turning himself over to the police.
‘Attack on democracy’
Through his Twitter account, Diokno alleged that the case had no merit. “Luto ang kasong ito. Sabik na sabik ata ang administrasyon na ikulong kami, kahit walang basehan o ebidensiya,” he wrote.
(This case is fabricated. The [Duterte] administration is very eager to jail us, even without basis or evidence.)
In their statement, OLFHRD called the charges the “latest attack on our democracy,” adding that the intent of the move was to stifle dissent and control public discourse. “The latest news is part of the most recent spate of attacks on our nation’s beaten democracy,” the group declared.
The Heraldo Filipino (HF) Editor in Chief Kelsey Telo, who signed the statement on behalf of DLSU-Dasamariñas’ official student publication, likewise noted, “If it means anything, for me, it arrives to be a manifestation of the government’s anguish over criticisms and democratic movements.”
Luistro, meanwhile, told The LaSallian that, as a respondent in the case, he is unable to comment on the matter outside of court.
Lasallian action
OLFHRD’s statement appealed to the values Lasallians are taught to uphold. Similarly, Iana De Castro (VI, BSINSYS), Vice Chair of Anakbayan-Vito Cruz—a member group of OLFHRD—pointed out, “Molded by Lasallian education and values, we must strive to speak up and become more proactive in asserting the human rights of the Filipino people.” Standing with Luistro thus meant defending truth, justice, and equality, she added.
According to Telo, HF has also taken an official position. “We stand with One La Salle for Human Rights on denouncing the case involving Br. Armin Luistro FSC and Atty. Chel Diokno in the sedition charges against them and 34 other opposition personalities,” she imparted, explaining that their publication is against all forms of attacks on Philippine democracy and that the case manifests to be a move against critics of the administration.
“Not only is HF one with De La Salle Philippines for the two Lasallian personalities subject to the case—we are one with the entire pursuit to insist the challenged definition and liberties of democracy,” she continued.
De Castro disclosed to The LaSallian that almost 150 individuals have pledged to the statement, as of press time. She revealed that signatories come from various Lasallian institutions, which include DLSU-Manila, DLSU-Dasmariñas, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute, De La Salle-Santiago Zobel School, La Salle Green Hills, De La Salle Lipa, St. Jaime Hilario School-De La Salle Bataan, and the De La Salle Brothers Philippine District.
In addition, there were also non-Lasallian attestants, such as those from the City Schools Division of Dasmariñas, St. Paul University Dumaguete, and the Rotary Club of Cavite Metro, among others.
De Castro explained that the unity statement was meant to pressure the government into withdrawing the case. OLFHRD, moreover, has a future course of action in mind. “The student-led alliance intends to work with the DLSP administration towards amplifying the call to lift the charges and stand with Br. Armin and those persecuted,” she remarked.
