Claire Castro Wants DOJ to Investigate Chavit Singson for “Inciting to Sedition”
CHAVIT SINGSON – Former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson is once again at the center of controversy after Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro urged authorities to investigate his remarks about starting a revolution.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro has called on authorities to look into the recent statements made by businessman and former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson, after he openly spoke about sparking a revolution against the government.
According to Castro, agencies such as the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) should carefully assess whether Singson’s pronouncements fall under the crime of inciting to sedition.
“Inakit niya ang mga kabataan, especially high school and college students, [na] huwag pumasok sa eskwelahan hangga’t hindi bumababa ang mga taong gusto nilang pababain,” Castro said during a press briefing on Monday, September 22.
She added that Singson even urged parents to allow their children to rise against corruption in what he described as a form of revolution. “Si Mr. Chavit Singson pa ang nagsabi na hayaan ng mga magulang ang mga batang ito na tumayo para sa isang rebolusyon [kontra] korupsyon,” she stressed.
Under Philippine law, inciting to sedition is considered a criminal act. It applies to individuals who, while not directly participating in acts of sedition, encourage or persuade others to engage in actions deemed as seditious. This may include public speeches, writings, or statements that call for rebellion against lawful authorities.
Legal experts note that the offense carries serious implications, as it threatens public order and the stability of democratic institutions. By urging citizens—particularly the youth—to abandon schools and join protest movements against the government, Singson’s remarks may be scrutinized as potentially inciting unrest.
Castro’s statement underscores the government’s position that freedom of speech, while constitutionally protected, has limits when it endangers national security or encourages disorder. She emphasized that the matter now lies in the hands of the proper agencies to determine whether charges should be filed.
As of now, Singson has yet to release a formal response to the Palace’s remarks. The issue is expected to fuel further debate on the fine line between exercising democratic rights and committing acts considered unlawful under the Revised Penal Code.
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