Sedition raps filed vs Abat

A group of trial lawyers have filed a criminal complaint before the Department of Justice accusing retired general Fortunato Abat and several other people of inciting to sedition for calling for a junta to replace President Arroyo.

In their complaint, they stated that Abat "in obvious conspiracy with the other respondents, uttered seditious words which dangerously tend to disturb the public peace."

"We don’t need to agitate the people that will result in a bigger crisis in the future. Our republic is already facing a cloudy stage of our history. We really need to give our country an opportunity to recover from economic crisis," attorney Ariel Arias, the group’s leader, told reporters.

In May, Abat called for a civilian-military junta to replace Mrs. Arroyo and Congress because of "a crisis in leadership." Abat served as defense secretary under former President Fidel Ramos. Ramos distanced himself from Abat, saying any coup would fail.

The government initially was poised to slap Abat with sedition charges but backed off after dismissing his call as "aberrations of an old man."

Abat, who is in his mid-70s and too old to face jail time, yesterday remained defiant. "Even if they issue a warrant and I am arrested, (calls for Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation) will continue. I am just one person and there are a lot of other people sharing my sentiments," he told reporters.

Abat heads the newly formed Coalition for National Solidarity, an alliance of groups that openly campaign for Mrs. Arroyo’s ouster. — With Jaime Laude