PAOCC hits vlogger for livestream

MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) yesterday admonished controversial vlogger Rendon Labador for livestreaming on Facebook a raid on an online lending company in Makati City on Oct. 20.

PAOCC executive director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz did not mince words when he was asked about Labador showing some of the people who were rounded up during the operation.

Labador also concluded that the people were guilty of a crime and should be jailed, which Cruz said violated the rights of the suspects.

Unlike Labador, Cruz said journalists cover the faces of suspects in their television reports.

“We will ensure that the human rights of the suspects and complainants will be upheld,” he said in Filipino.

Cruz pointed out that of the 252 people rounded up during the raid, only three foreigners and 35 Filipinos who were found to be supervisors of the lending firm were charged with violating Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Cruz expressed his frustration because instead of focusing on the issue of online loan scams, the issue is now centered on Labador’s actions, which he described as a waste of time.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. on Monday ordered an investigation of the incident to determine if officers of the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) who brought Labador to the operation are administratively liable.

While the investigation is ongoing, Cruz said ACG spokesperson Capt. Michelle Sabino should stay quiet instead of speaking about the issue in interviews with radio and television stations.

In an interview over News5, Labador dragged the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority into the issue as he pointed out that the MMDA is also using the services of a vlogger in its operations.

“Nagtataka po ako na bakit ako ‘yung pinag-iinitan (I wonder why they are picking on me),” he said.