General Romeo Poquiz arrest stirs political tension; lawyer slams “atrocious arrest”
- Retired Maj. Gen. Romeo Poquiz was arrested at NAIA Terminal 3 on January 5, 2026, immediately after arriving from a family trip to Thailand
- The warrant, issued in December, is linked to Poquiz's calls for the military to withdraw support from the government during anti-corruption protests
- Defense lawyer Ferdinand Topacio condemned the arrest as "blatant intimidation" and a distraction from the government's own corruption scandals
- Poquiz leads the United People's Initiative, a group of retired officers demanding accountability for billions in allegedly misused public funds
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The quiet hum of Monday morning at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 was abruptly broken on January 5, 2026, as authorities intercepted retired Air Force Major General Romeo Poquiz.
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Fresh off a flight from Bangkok, Thailand, the 67-year-old former military leader found himself trading his vacation memories for handcuffs in a high-stakes arrest that has sent ripples through the nation’s political landscape.
Poquiz, a decorated veteran turned fierce government critic, was apprehended by operatives from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
The arrest stems from a warrant issued on December 5 by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 77, charging him with "inciting to sedition."
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The allegations trace back to his leadership during a series of "Trillion Peso" anti-corruption rallies in late 2025, where he allegedly urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to withdraw support from the administration over a massive flood control fund scandal.
The scene at the airport was described as "heavy-handed" by Poquiz’s legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, who expressed outrage over being initially barred from speaking with his client.
"Totally atrocious! We were barred from conferring with our client. Sobrang garapal naman," Topacio stated, visibly frustrated. He later characterized the move as an attempt to "weaponize the law" to silence those who speak out against systemic corruption.
For Poquiz, this is not just a legal battle but a matter of conviction. As the convenor of the United People's Initiative (UPI), he has long argued that the military’s ultimate loyalty belongs to the Constitution and the people, rather than any individual leader.
Despite the gravity of the sedition raps, Poquiz remained defiant, reportedly posting a brief message on social media confirming his arrest with the parting words, "Long live the Filipino!"
The arrest highlights a deepening rift between the government and a vocal group of retired military officers.
While the AFP leadership has maintained its "solid" support for the chain of command, the sight of a former general being led away in handcuffs serves as a sobering reminder of the thin line between protected dissent and illegal incitement in the modern political era.
Poquiz is expected to post a ₱48,000 bail as the legal proceedings begin, but the conversation his arrest has sparked regarding free speech and government accountability is likely to last much longer.
In other news, a vape shop employee in Barangay Kalumpang, Marikina City, faced a terrifying ordeal on Sunday, January 4, 2026, when two armed men stormed the establishment shortly after opening. During the heist, the perpetrators used an HDMI cable found in the shop to tie up the sales attendant, effectively preventing any immediate pursuit. In a bizarre twist to the criminal act, one of the gunmen reportedly offered an apology to the victim for the robbery before the duo escaped with stolen merchandise and cash. Marikina police are currently reviewing local surveillance footage to identify the suspects, who are believed to be behind a recent string of similar commercial robberies in the area.
Still in other news, a police officer’s journey home on December 31, 2025, ended in tragedy when he was intercepted and fatally shot by unidentified assailants in the town of Diplahan. Crime scene investigators in Zamboanga Sibugay recovered spent shells from a high-powered firearm, suggesting that the attack was a calculated and targeted execution. The shooting, which occurred late at night as the region prepared for New Year festivities, prompted an immediate heightened alert for law enforcement units across the province. Regional police have mobilized specialized teams for a pursuit operation, vowing to track down the "riding-in-tandem" suspects who fled the scene immediately after the killing.
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