QCPD sues 3 Germans over fake documentary

MANILA, Philippines — Police have filed criminal charges against three German citizens and two Filipinos allegedly responsible for a documentary that depicted a barangay in Quezon City under the control of a criminal ring.

Charged before the city prosecutor’s office were Germans Victor Jipp, Uwe Ahlborn and Gerrit Kemming, Quezon City Police District director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said in a text message yesterday.

Also included in the charge sheet were Filipinos Marjuirette Estrada and Rolando Bolita.

Torre said the five were slapped with complaints for libel, unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances under the Revised Penal Code, violation of Presidential Decree 90 for declaring unlawful rumors of public and spreading false information, all in relation to Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

He said the Germans produced “No-Go Zones, Philippine Gangs,” which aired on social media platforms last month.

The documentary was released in November 2019 by network Amazon Prime Video and reposted on Free Documentary on Facebook on April 26.

It featured what is supposedly a lawless community being run by thugs in Barangay Quirino 2-A, Quezon City.

The video, which generated 2.9 million views on Facebook, showed members of a criminal group called the Batangas City Jail whose base of operations is along Pajo street, which is near the QCPD’s headquarters at Camp Karingal.

Police investigation showed that the supposed members of the group were residents who were hired as actors by the Germans and their Filipino companions.

Contrary to what was depicted in the video, Torre said Barangay 2-A is a peaceful community.