Retired Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Major General and United People’s Initiative (UPI) convenor Romeo Poquiz said it was unjust to arrest protesters who stood for the people’s beliefs instead of seizing officials and other “big fish” involved in the controversial flood control scam.

“‘Yun na nga ang hindi kapani-paniwala, hindi tama na nangyayari, e. Kami na nagpapahayag lang ng damdamin dahil sa galit dito sa mga matinding korapsyon—hindi lamang milyon kundi mga bilyon, trilyon pa nga—at mapanagot itong mga nagnakaw, itong mga opisyales… na binoto natin, pinagkatiwalaan para serbisyuhan tayo pero sa halip, tayo pa ‘yung nilapastangan, pinagtaksilan,” Poquiz said on Monday, in an interview on Balansyado.

“Tulad niyan, ako ‘yung kinasuhan, instead na ‘yung dapat, ‘yung mga nagnakaw na ‘yun, e, sinabi ng Pangulo, na dapat may makukulong, ipapanagot bago mag-Pasko, pero wala naman … Parang mali—mali talaga,” he added.

Upon returning to the country from overseas, Poquiz was seized for inciting to sedition. He told DZRH that the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) filed an inciting to sedition and rebellion case against him in response to social media posts allegedly aiming to destabilize the government.

“Ang ginagawa lang naman namin, aming grupo, ay mag-protesta, magpahayag ng mga damdamin dito sa mga matinding korapsyon na itong nangyayari sa bayan. At gusto nating mapanagot ang mga nagnakaw ng mga bilyun-bilyon sa kaban ng bayan,” Poquiz explained.

He did admit that during the UPI’s protest in November alongside the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), he called for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s resignation and for the military to withdraw their support for the present administration. This was, he said, in response to Senator Imee Marcos’ speech, wherein she claimed that her brother, the President, was a drug addict. He did not, however, post this sentiment online, and did not reiterate it.

“Of course hindi mo na maiwasan ‘yung sentimiento na hindi pala karapat-dapat ‘yung Presidente—drug addict pala. So may move doon na mag-resign ang Presidente, ipinapanawagan namin,” Poquiz explained.

“Nabanggit ko lamang ‘yun na hindi naman bumaliktad kundi withdraw support noong panahon ‘yun na si Senator Imee nga ay habang kami’y nagra-rally… ‘yung speech (tungkol sa paggamit ni Pangulong Marcos ng ilegal na droga). Mag-resign, mag-withdraw ng support ang AFP, parang ganoon na dahil sa bugso ng damdamin noong gabi na iyon,” he went on.

The former general clarified that this was not part of the PNP-CIDG’s case against him, as their only basis was his posts online. However, he said he stands by the sentiment that the military and police should withdraw their support.

Poquiz said he believes the charge against him was mere harassment and expressed confidence that he would prevail, adding that the government only wished to make an example of him to deter protesters critical of the government.

“Actually harassment naman ito, e. Naniniwala kami na ‘yung mga kasong ipinatong sa’kin ay mapapanalunan namin. So itong panggigipit, pananakot, hindi lang actually ‘yan sa’kin. Parang gustong patunayan ng gobyerno na ganitong mangyayari sa inyo pag kayo’y nagprotesta o nagpahayag ng mga ganyang sentimiento,” he told the anchor.

He said that even in retirement, he still felt an obligation to stand against corruption.

“Maski retirado ako, ang paniniwala ko, ako pa rin sundalo, ano, dahil noong nasa serbisyo ako, ‘yung ganyang katiwalian, hindi ko ‘yan pinapalagpas noong ako ay commander ng mga unit. Kinakasuhan ko ‘yung mga taong gumagawa ng ganyan, maski opisyal. Pinapanagot natin sila, hindi puwede ‘yung mga kalokohan na ganyan,” he said.

Poquiz said the UPI will continue protesting against corruption, for the sake of all affected by flooding that should have been mitigated by flood control projects.

“Tuloy-tuloy po kami dahil sa paningin namin, wala naman kaming vino-violate na batas. Ayaw naman namin na bumagsak ang gobyerno natin, nagpapahayag lang kami ng damdamin na mapanagot at mabigyan ng hustisya ‘yung mga taong namamatay at (apektado) ng mga sakuna diyan sa dapat naayos na flood control project,” said Poquiz.

On Monday, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 77 ordered Poquiz’s temporary release after he posted ₱48,000 as bail. His arraignment and pre-trial hearing is set for January 14 at 2:00 p.m.