MANILA, Philippines — Authorities have arrested the man they said is behind a website that constantly shared links to anonymous videos linking the president and his family to the illegal drug trade, but not the actual uploader of the Youtube videos, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra clarified Thursday.
News broke early Thursday morning that authorities are in custody of the “uploader” of the video that features a certain “Bikoy.” The videos allege that the Dutertes, including the president's daughter Kitty, have links to the illegal narcotics trade.
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In a televised conference, Guevarra clarified reports and said that the authorities have in custody a certain Rodel Jayme, the alleged the administrator of website metrobalita.com which shared links to the “Ang Tototong Narcolist” videos.
Search warrant issued, served
Guevarra explained that he directed the Department of Justice-Office of Cybercrime and the National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division on April 17 to “uncover the identity of producers and uploaders of the video.”
Guevarra said investigators found that website metrobalita.com “was constantly posting links of the aforesaid 'Ang Totoong Narcolist' which allowed public to have easier access” to the videos.
The Justice chief stressed the anonymous videos accuse a minor of involvement in drugs.
The domain of the website was traced to a certain Rodel Jayme, Guevarra said.
The NBI Cybercrime Division then asked the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 to issue a warrant to search and seize of computer data on April 29, which was issued on the same day.
The NBI CCD agents served the search warrant at dawn on April 30.
"Jayme was cooperative and surrendered his desktop computer, mobile phone and internet service provider," Guevarra said.
A forensic examination of the seized gadgets "showed that Jaime was indeed the registrant and administrator of the website metrobalita.com."
"It appears—it appears, ha—that he was the one who started all of this by creating the website, behind the subsequent uploading of the videos,” Guevarra explained.
He added: “It’s just logical that the NBI starts with him.”
Raps to be filed vs Jayme
Guevarra stressed that the NBI is still conducting data gathering on the gadgets seized from Jayme.
Data gathering “might reveal something deeper that cybercrime.”
But Guevarra said that complaints of violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act and of child abuse may be filed against Jayme.
He added: "Possibly then, even a higher type of offense," including inciting to sedition complaint.
Article 142 states that inciting to sedition can be done through speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, cartoons, banners or other representations “that tend to disturb or obstruct any lawful officer in executing the functions of his office, or instigate others to cabal and meet together for unlawful purposes, or which suggest or incite rebellious conspiracies or riots, or which lead or tend to stir up the people against the lawful authorities or to disturb the peace of the community, the safety and order of the government, or who shall knowingly conceal such evil practices.”
He said he would leave the matter to the National Prosecution Service.