THE government’s drive against fake news was formally set in motion with the filing of a case against a vlogger based in Cebu City for allegedly spreading false and malicious information about National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Jaime Santiago’s remarks on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The NBI filed the complaint against the still unnamed vlogger who posted on his social media page a picture of Santiago holding a microphone with the caption “Bagong pananakot sa mga OFW (New threat to OFW).”
The NBI charged that the video misrepresented Santiago’s actual statements and gave the false impression that he was threatening the OFWs.
Santiago clarified that his remarks referred specifically to vloggers, either based in the Philippines or abroad, who have pending legal cases.
“I was interviewed and I said vloggers who are overseas but facing legal issues in the Philippines and with outstanding arrest warrants will be apprehended upon their return to the country,” Santiago explained.
“Those who are already here, once we have filed the complaints will be arrested,” he added.
The assailed social media post also included several provocative statements: “Bakit sa’yo po ba ang Pilipinas? Bakit kayo ganyan sa mga nakakatulong sa ekonomiya ng bansa? (Why, do you own the Philippines? Why do you treat those who are helping the Philippine economy that way?”
The questioned post reportedly garnered around 58,000 views, resulting in public outrage and calls to withhold remittances.
“Biglang binago na. Ayan, tinatakot ko daw ang mga OFW. ‘Yung mga OFW naman na hindi nalalaman ang tunay na pangyayari, nagalit na sakin (They abruptly altered it, saying I was threatening the OFWs. For their part, the OFWs do not know what was really going on. They were furious against me),” Santiago said.
“At sabi na, wala nang remittance, huwag natin sundin ang gobyerno. That is inciting to sedition. Kinukuha nila ‘yung galit para magalit sa gobyerno (It also said no more remittances; let us not obey the government. That is inciting to sedition,” Santiago added.
The bureau warned that such actions are not only irresponsible, but also criminal.
The concerned vlogger now faces charges for unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances, as well as inciting to sedition under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012