Retired Major General Romeo V. Poquiz, a decorated former officer of the Philippine Air Force and the founding chairman of the anti-corruption group United People’s Initiative (UPI), was arrested by authorities on Monday, January 5, 2026, upon his arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.
Poquiz was taken into custody based on a warrant issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 77 for charges of inciting to sedition. The arrest was executed by operatives of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the Quezon City Police District, with support from the PNP-Aviation Security Group. Authorities escorted the retired general from the aircraft to a private vehicle.
The arrest is connected to his alleged involvement in protests organized by the UPI against the current administration, specifically citing activities at the People Power Monument on EDSA on November 16 and 17 of the previous year. The PNP-CIDG is recommending a bail of P48,000 for the charge.
Gen. Romeo V. Poquiz (Ret.) is a highly decorated officer and a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1981. With over four decades of service, he has held significant roles in security, logistics, and strategic management. Post-retirement, he became the lead convener of the United People’s Initiative (UPI), a movement described as being primarily composed of retired military officers advocating for government accountability and transparency, and fighting what they call “massive corruption” under the Marcos Jr. administration.
The arrest has sparked immediate criticism and debate regarding the state of democratic dissent. In a detailed Facebook post, analyst Anna Malindog-Uy framed the arrest not as an isolated law enforcement action but as a potential sign of “creeping authoritarianism.” She argued that while not martial law, the use of sedition charges against a critic represents “the selective use of law to discipline political behavior.”
“The question is not whether a warrant exists. Authoritarian systems also have warrants,” Uy wrote. “The question is whether the law is being used to punish conduct or to chill participation.”
Malindog-Uy and other observers posit that arresting a retired general known for anti-corruption advocacy sends a deterrent message to the broader opposition and civil society. They stress that while no one is above the law, the proportionality of responding to political speech and mobilization with sedition charges is a test for the country’s democratic norms.
Poquiz’s legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand “Ferdie” Topacio, has been notified of the arrest. The retired general is expected to be processed at Camp Crame. The case is likely to intensify scrutiny on how the judiciary handles charges arising from political dissent.
The arrest of Retired Major General Romeo Poquiz merges a straightforward police operation with deep political ramifications. It highlights the ongoing tension between state authority and citizen dissent in the Philippines, raising fundamental questions about the boundaries of permissible criticism and the tools used to enforce public order.#
