8chan founder faces arrest in Philippines for cyberlibel

MANILA, Philippines — The founder of 8chan, an online messaging board linked to several mass shootings in the United States, is facing arrest in the Philippines over a cyberlibel case.

The Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 158 on Wednesday issued a warrant for the arrest of Fredrick Brennan, his lawyer Alexander Acain Jr. said yesterday. The court set bail at P10,000.

“We confirmed with the court that it already issued an arrest warrant against my client,” Acain said in a phone interview.

Acain will file today a motion to recall the warrant while their appeal is being heard.

According to Acain, he already updated Brennan, who is currently in the US, about the status of the case. He also advised Brennan to return to the country and post bail.

“He needs to personally appear in court for him to post bail,” he said.

The arrest warrant came out a month after the Pasig prosecutor’s office found probable cause to charge Brennan for cyberlibel.

The  warrant stemmed from a cyberlibel case filed by current 8chan owner James Arthur Watkins, who accused Brennan of posting libelous tweets from October to September 2019.

In a resolution dated Jan. 2, the Pasig prosecutor’s office said Brennan posted offensive remarks against Watkins while he was testifying before the United States Congress.

Using Twitter handle @HW_BEAT_THAT, Brennan used the word senile thrice in describing Watkins, according to the resolution.

Brennan also said Watkins is incompetent in running the firm he founded and someone who “can’t control his emotions while on the phone.”