NBI going after social media users who criticize government, too
MANILA, Philippines — Rights lawyer Chel Diokno on Thursday said the National Bureau of Investigation is going after social media users who "air their sentiments" on government's response on the COVID-19 crisis.
In a statement Thursday, Diokno said he took on a case of a social media user who was summoned by the bureau for investigation on a violation of Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, which explains “unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances.”
Diokno said the NBI “is now going after even ordinary citizens for simply airing their sentiments on the government’s response to COVID-19 on social media.”
NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin confirmed to Philstar.com the subpoena sent by Diokno and said the bureau has sent out “more than a dozen” of them.
An ABS-CBN tweet report, however, said that the NBI Cybercrime DIvision clarified that the summons were related to the Bureau's investigation on the spread of fake news on COVID-19 online.
The subpoena sent to Diokno’s client in particular noted that the investigation will be into the individual’s “publicly posted article concerning an alleged misuse of government funds.”
Di lang si Mayor Vico. Pati ordinaryong mamamayang nagpo-post ng hinaing online, pinapatawag ng NBI. Tinanggap ko ang kasong ito dahil di na makatao ang nangyayari. Ang dami nang namamatay, pati frontliners, pero imbis na COVID, kritiko ang gusto nilang puksain. #ProtectThePeople pic.twitter.com/IoGjLQk1wr
— Chel Diokno (@ChelDiokno) April 2, 2020
The veteran rights lawyer said he took on the case because “the situation is turning ‘inhumane.’”
“Ang dami nang namamatay, pati frontliners, pero imbis na COVID, kritiko ang gusto nilang puksain,” Diokno added.
(Many are dying, even frontliners, but instead of COVID, they want critics eliminated.)
Article 154 of RPC
Early in February, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra directed the NBI to conduct a case build up against people “on the alleged deliberate spread of misinformation and fake news about... and false reporting of the [COVID-19].”
The Justice chief then said that the directive aims to avoid “causing undue panic and alarm.” The DOJ has yet to reply on questions whether the NBI issued subpoenas were made under this directive.
The summons sent by the NBI did not cite the recently signed Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which contains a provision on penalizing those who spread “false information” on social media regarding the COVID-19 crisis.
Instead, it cited Article 154 of the RPC which penalizes the following:
- Any person who by means of printing, lithography, or any other means of publication shall publish or cause to be published as news any false news which may endanger the public order, or cause damage to the interest or credit of the State;
- Any person who by the same means, or by words, utterances or speeches shall encourage disobedience to the law or to the constituted authorities or praise, justify, or extol any act punished by law;
- Any person who shall maliciously publish or cause to be published any official resolution or document without proper authority, or before they have been published officially; or
- Any person who shall print, publish, or distribute or cause to be printed, published, or distributed books, pamphlets, periodicals, or leaflets which do not bear the real printer's name, or which are classified as anonymous.
It is unclear if the said provision of the RPC covers published posts on social media.
NBI probe into LGU officials
This came after the NBI’s Anti-Graft Division also asked Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto to come to the bureau’s office and explain his alleged violation of Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, specifically on the city’s supposed continuous tricycle operation.
Sotto on March 19 said that the city government will comply with all national government directives, which include the suspension of mass transportation.
RA 11469 was signed into law on March 24, and the said law is not retroactive.
Asked if an act committed before the law punishing it was signed—that is, if penal laws be applied retroactively—Guevarra explained that "penal provisions of any law are not applied retroactively unless the offense is a continuing one and its commission has not been stopped."
The cited provision penalizes persons who... “publish or cause to be published as news any false news which may endanger the public order, or cause damage to the interest or credit of the State.”
Photo shows members of the Philippine National Police deployed in Manila amid COVID-19 threat. The STAR/Edd Gumban
President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16, 2020 declares an enhanced community quarantine over all of mainland Luzon, an expansion of an earlier general community quarantine over the National Capital Region.
The entire National Capital Region—16 cities and a municipality—is under community quarantine from March 15 to April 14, which means the enforcement of social distancing measures like letting fewer people on public transportation, reduced store hours, and the possibiity of curfews.
According to a memorandum issued by the Palace on Saturday, March 14, the quarantine means that "movement of people shall be limited to accessing basic necessities and work; and uniformed personnel and quarantine officers shall be present at border points."
Travel restrictions in and out of the capital will also be implemented.
A labor group says another lockdown will never resolve rising COVID-19 cases in the Philippines after the government announced that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under the enhanced community quarantine starting Monday.
“The Duterte government seems to be deliberate in focusing its efforts in imposing quarantine and lockdown measures instead of addressing the rising cases of COVID-19 and the worsening state of the pandemic through medical solutions and scientific approach,” says Defend Jobs Philippines.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says the implementation of enhanced community quarantine is meant to slow down the increase of COVID-19 cases, so hospitals and health workers will not be overwhelmed.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announces that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under enhanced community quarantine starting Monday, March 29.
Tuguegarao City will be placed under enhanced community quarantine from January 20 to 29 due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city.
Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba approved the request of Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano to place the city under ECQ for 10 days.
According to the Cagayan Provincial Information Office, the city currently has 246 active cases.
BREAKING NEWS | ENERO 19, 2021 RIATF INAPRUBAHAN NA ANG PAGSASAILALIM SA TUGUEGARAO CITY SA 10-ARAW NA...
Posted by Cagayan Provincial Information Office on Tuesday, 19 January 2021
Batangas, one of the provinces hardest hit by the novel coronavirus, has reported no new cases of the disease for two consecutive days.
The provincial DOH Office says the number of COVID-19 cases in the province stood at 91 with no new cases as of Wednesday afternoon.
Lipa City has the most cases with 26, followed by Batangas City (21) and Nasugbu (11).
Tanauan City has the fourth most cases with eight, followed by Bauan (5) and Alitagtag (3). Cuenca and Sto. Tomas City had two cases each, while the municipalities of Calaca, Lemery, Lian, Lobo, Mabini, Mataas na Kahoy, Padre Garcia, San Jose, San Juan, San Pascual and Taal had one case each, respectively. — The Filipino Connection
- Latest
- Trending
