GR 39227; (October, 1933) (Digest)
G.R. No. 39227 ; October 14, 1933
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, plaintiff-appellee, vs. JUAN FELEO, defendant-appellant.
FACTS
The appellant, Juan Feleo, was charged with inciting sedition under Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code. During a public meeting of a legislative labor committee in San Miguel, Bulacan, Feleo delivered a speech in Tagalog urging unity to “overthrow” the lawmaking power, advocating for a “soviet government” like in Russia, and calling for all property to be delivered to the government for administration to achieve the “redemption of the Filipino people.”
ISSUE
Whether Feleo’s speech constituted the crime of inciting sedition under Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code.
RULING
Yes. The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of conviction. The Court held that Feleo’s language, which incited the audience to overthrow the lawmaking power, necessarily involved preventing the Government and public officials from freely exercising their functions, a form of sedition defined under Article 139 of the Revised Penal Code. The Court rejected the defense that the speech was protected by constitutional guaranties, citing previous rulings. The penalty imposed by the trial court was correct.
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