Duterte foes cry foul as Philippine police push sedition charges

MANILA, July 19 (Reuters) - Opponents of Philippine
President Rodrigo Duterte expressed shock and outrage on Friday
at police moves to charge dozens of them with sedition, calling
it persecution aimed at stamping out scrutiny of his
increasingly powerful rule.
Thirty-six opposition figures are accused of cyber libel and
sedition for orchestrating a series of online videos ahead of
May's mid-term elections. The videos feature a hooded man
alleging that Duterte and his family members were involved in
the illegal drugs trade, which they deny.
The man, who had said he was a witness, later surrendered
and appeared with police on television to say his claims were
false and that he was cajoled into making the videos by
opposition members. They included the vice president, lawyers,
Catholic priests, a former attorney general, and incumbent and
former lawmakers, the man said.
The justice department is looking into the complaint, which
is the latest move against Duterte's detractors who say the aim
is to create a power monopoly for a president who already enjoys
a legislative super-majority and a public approval rating of
about 80 percent.
Duterte insists he is open to challenges but has shown no
qualms about threatening high-profile critics, several of whom
he said last month he would jail if they tried to impeach him.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte had no
involvement in the police sedition complaint.
"We have nothing to do with this case, not at all,
absolutely nothing," he told news channel ANC. "Let the judicial
process do its work."
Antonio Trillanes, a former senator and Duterte's strongest
critic, described the complaint as "political persecution and
harassment" intended to stifle democratic dissent.
A spokesman for Vice President Leni Robredo, who was not
Duterte's running mate and was elected separately, called the
complaint "completely baseless". Her party ally Senator Francis
Pangilinan said it was part of a series of moves towards
removing her from office.
Leila de Lima, an anti-Duterte senator detained on drugs
charges, said it was "hogwash, pure hogwash", and Samira Gutoc,
a candidate in recent Senate elections, urged the police not to
become partisan.
"I really am baffled," Gutoc said of being accused of
involvement.