Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has formally requested the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to identify and pursue unnamed vloggers who, he said, are being paid to “malign and spread lies” about the House Quad Committee.
The request came as the mega panel continued to probe extrajudicial killings (EJKs), Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators (POGOs), and illegal drug syndicates, as well as their alleged links with the previous administration.
Last week, the lawmaker also exposed what he called a “well-funded and orchestrated troll campaign” allegedly bankrolled by illegal drug syndicates and POGOs to undermine its ongoing investigation.
He said the continuing online campaign is intended to discredit the mega-panel and intimidate witnesses who have exposed significant connections between illegal drugs, corruption, and POGOs.
Barbers, the Quad Comm’s lead chairperson, in a Nov. 25 letter, complained to NBI Director Jaime Santiago that the deliberate disinformation drive by the seemingly organized vloggers not only damages the integrity of public service but also fosters an environment of confusion, distrust and deception.
He asked Santiago to help Quad Comm investigate and determine the identity of the persons or groups responsible for creating and posting damaging and misleading vlogs, and secure and preserve all digital evidence related to the vlog, including metadata, upload details, and related activity logs.
The lawmaker also submitted pieces of evidence of some malicious vlogs sourced from various social media platforms, including a derogatory vlog that originated from his province and was picked up by Manila-based mercenary vloggers, linking him and his brother, Surigao del Norte Gov. Lyndon Barbers to illegal drugs.
“It is very obvious that these are well-organized and paid vloggers who just wanted to destroy my name, my brother’s and the Quad Comm members. Some said these came from paid groups. Maybe, their Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation employers and the drug lords are getting hurt with the Quad Comm investigations,” he said.
He appealed to Santiago to pursue appropriate criminal charges against those behind those who malign them.
“Subject to the appreciation of your good office, these charges may include the crimes of Libel (Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code), Sedition (Article 139), Conspiracy to Commit Sedition (Article 142). Incriminating Innocent Person Act (Article 363) and Intriguing Against Honor (Article 364) – all in relation to Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act,” Barbers wrote in his letter.
