PRO-7 defends warrantless arrest of Cebuano film writer

CEBU, Philippines —  Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 director Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro defended the warrantless arrest of Cebuano film writer and entrepreneur Maria Victoria Beltran over a post on Facebook which Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella labeled as “fake news”.

Ferro said the arrest was valid despite the absence of a warrant from the court. He explained that there are two types of valid arrest---one with warrant and the other is warrantless.

"There are several ways to arrest a person... we are talking about the warrantless arrest, there are several requirements if we want to conduct a warrantless arrest, one if he's committed a crime, is committing, and had committed (a crime)," Ferro said.

In Beltran’s case, Ferro said it is clear that she committed a crime by spreading false information.

"For this instance, she had committed a crime of making a false information, fake news, very obvious naman and she even admitted it that she have that kind of posting at the website," Ferro said.

Beltran’s post on Facebook claiming that there were 9,000 new COVID-19 cases in Sitio Zapatera, Barangay Luz, making Cebu City “the epicenter in the whole solar system” was unfounded and unverified, said Ferro.

He added that the post created an 'atmosphere of fear'. The police official said the post was not also helpful, especially to the people in the affected barangay.

"I think it's not fair for the other residents of Sitio Zapatera of Barangay Luz to be branded as have been positively tested without having facts or data or evidence that will support her allegation," Ferro explained.

Ferro said they are pushing for the filing of the criminal complaint against Beltran despite the mounting calls to release her. Beltran was arrested by the operatives of Regional Intelligence Division and Regional Anti-cybercrime Unit (RACU) in Central Visayas Sunday dawn after Labella publicly called her out on Facebook and threatened her with arrest for spreading “fake news”.

Yesterday, the mayor did not anymore comment on the arrest of Beltran. He said the matter is now in the hands of the police.

"Unya naa nay inquest siguro, so we'd leave it at that... Di na ta mokomentaryo niana," said Labella.

Beltran will be charged with violation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act recently signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Labella directed the police to ensure that Beltran is afforded the opportunity to invoke her constitutional right to counsel. She should also be afforded the due process requirement under the Constitution.

"Let the legal and judicial processes go and then whatever is the decision of the judicial authorities that is the matter that is now being considered," said Labella.  FPL (FREEMAN)