Acorda files cybercrime raps vs vlogger over spread of destab rumors
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said that PNP chief Benjamin Acorda Jr. filed cybercrime charges against a content creator who implicated him in an alleged destabilization plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In a press briefing, PNP Spokesperson Police Col. Jean Fajardo said that the individual had spread false information through a vlog, saying that the PNP chief and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Romeo Brawner Jr. withdrew their support for the Marcos administration.
“Ang sinampa nating kaso ay dahil sa pagpapa-kalat ng hindi totoong information na ang ating chief PNP ay nag-withdraw na ng support sa ating presidente at hinihikayat ang ating presidente na magresign na,” Fajardo said.
(The case we filed is due to spreading false information that our chief PNP has withdrawn support for our president and is urging the president to resign.)
The PNP spokesman said that the individual is believed to be a former official of the AFP.
Fajardo said Acorda filed the charges before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office for the vlogger's violation of Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) or “Unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances.”
The complaint was also logged under the Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 which states that the penalty imposed for crimes under the RPC shall be one degree higher.
Fajardo then emphasized that the PNP respects the freedom of speech and expression, but he said that spreading of misinformation “to advance personal or even political
interest at the expense of another person” is wrong.
“Ang usapin pong ito ay hindi lamang tungkol sa ating chief PNP. Ang gusto natin dito ay matigil na ang pagpapakalat ng kasinungalingan at mga maling impormasyon. We should stop spreading lies and deception regardless kung sino man,” Fajardo said.
(This issue is not only about our PNP chief. What we want here is to put an end to the spread of lies and false information. We should stop spreading lies and deception, regardless of whoever they may be.)
"They are free to air their grievances against anyone, even against our government but please spare the PNP," she added.
Philstar.com has reached out to the alleged retired army general mentioned by Fajardo for a response regarding the charges. This story will be updated upon his response.
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