Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday said expressing one’s position on public issues in placards or streamers is a lawful exercise of the freedom of speech, unless its contents incite people to rise up in arms against the government.
“It depends on the contents,” Guevarra said when sought for comment on the actions taken by the police authorities, particularly the confiscation of banners or posters showing one’s sentiments against the anti-terrorism law.
“If the contents incite people to rise up in arms against the duly constituted authorities, the police may seize these materials as part of the evidence for a possible prosecution for the offense of inciting to sedition,” he said in a message to reporters.
“Otherwise, if the contents merely express a position on public issues, such as one’s stand against the ATA (Anti-Terrorism Act), written on placards or streamers, the same constitute a lawful exercise of one’s freedom of speech or expression protected by the Constitution,” Guevarra hadded.