Ex-AFP officer slams raps over socmed posts

MANILA, Philippines — Retired military officer Johnny Macanas Sr. has decried the filing of criminal complaints against him by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., calling it a form of harassment and curtailment of his freedom of expression.

Addressing the issue on his YouTube vlog, the General’s Opinion, on Monday night, Macanas said Acorda’s move is meant to intimidate vloggers like him from expressing their opinions on social media platforms.

“If the purpose of this administration in filing that case against me is to scare and silence me, they’re wrong because I will continue to express my opinion,” Macanas said in Filipino, as he expressed concern that the country’s top police official was the one who filed a complaint against him.

“To be honest, there’s a bit of nervousness; who wouldn’t feel so if the one who filed the case is an active PNP general,” Macanas said.

Acorda on Monday filed cybercrime complaints for the use of his image in Macanas’ vlog about an alleged ouster plot against President Marcos.

Macanas pointed out that he never said anything bad about the government under Marcos and never called for violence against the Chief Executive.

The former military officer also stressed that he never mentioned the name of any police or military general, including Acorda, in his vlog.

“My last word (in that vlog) was to hopefully fix this issue. I hope there won’t be chaos,” Macanas said.

He added that he is now looking for a lawyer for his case.

Responding to Macanas’ statement, PNP public information officer Col. Jean Fajardo maintained that he violated the law when he used Acorda’s photograph in his vlog.

“If he sees that he has a right to use the name and image of a person without his expressed opinion, that is his opinion, but in the eyes of the law, there is an obvious violation of existing laws,” Fajardo said in Filipino and English  at a news briefing at Camp Crame yesterday.

Fajardo advised Macanas to answer the complaint against him in the proper forum.

The PNP official said there is no need to conduct a loyalty check among the 232,000 officers and personnel of the PNP, assuring the public that their organization is 100 percent behind the government.

“I don’t think we need a loyalty check because every member of the PNP knows what their mandate is,” she added.

No harassment

A day after he filed cybercrime complaints against Macanas, Acorda maintained that they are not harassing content creators who are against the Marcos administration.

Speaking to reporters, Acorda said the cases he filed against Macanas is his way of defending himself and the PNP from people who are trying to use the police organization to oust Marcos.

He added that if Macanas believes that his right to freedom of expression is being curtailed, the latter and other vloggers can also sue him. He said he is ready to face the charges.– Emmanuel Tupas