The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday said the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has no involvement in the investigation of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and political vlogger Claire Contreras, known as Maharlika.
The NBI has filed sedition charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Roque and Contreras in relation to the circulation of a video online, claiming that a man digitally manipulated to resemble President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was snorting a white powdery substance.
In an interview with Teleradyo Serbisyo, NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin confirmed that the basis of the charges filed were solely the findings of the NBI.
He added that they “have strong evidence of their violations of our domestic laws.”
Lavin shared that the filing of a possible case abroad will be taken up at the senior management level of the government because it will be a coordinated effort of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the DOJ.
In a separate interview, NBI Director Jaime Santiago noted that the viral ‘polvoron’ video has long been proven to be AI-generated through forensic presentation.
“Fake news has been rampant, it has been our problem. We want to end this [fake news] not only Secretary Roque, not only Maharlika, but also Atty. (Raul) Lambino and former Secretary (Ronald) Cardema,” he said.
The NBI filed complaints against Lambino and Duterte Youth party-list chair Cardema for allegedly circulating that the Supreme Court (SC) issued an order halting the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Santiago emphasized that the spread of fake news heightens the current political atmosphere, which may cause public disorder.
The NBI is filing cases not out of political agenda but because the subjects are violating local laws, he added.