Roque, vlogger face sedition raps

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has recommended the filing of inciting to sedition charges against former presidential spokesman Harry Roque as well as inciting to sedition, cyber libel and computer forgery cases against vlogger Claire Contreras or “Maharlika” in connection with a video purportedly showing President Marcos snorting cocaine.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago recommended the charges to Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon on Monday.

At the same time, the NBI filed criminal cases yesterday against lawyer Raul Lambino and Duterte Youth party-list chairman Ronald Cardema for allegedly spreading false information regarding a supposed Supreme Court (SC) order halting the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

NBI Intelligence Service agent Allein Rey Delfin said both men falsely claimed that the SC issued a temporary restraining order to stop the implementation of a warrant allegedly issued by the International Criminal Court against Duterte.

“We filed cases against Raul Lambino and Mr. Cardema for violation of Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, the unlawful use of means of publication or unlawful utterances,” Delfin told reporters at the Department of Justice.

Lambino allegedly made the claim during a Facebook Live broadcast on March 11, asserting that a TRO had been granted following a petition by Duterte’s legal team.

Delfin clarified that while a petition was filed, the SC had not issued any order.

“At that point in time, the situation was very volatile... Any interjection of such false news would probably create confusion in the public’s mind and endanger public order,” Delfin said.

Cardema made a similar claim during a media interview.

Though he did not post the statement on his own accounts, the video circulated widely across Facebook pages.

Delfin said both statements had the same misleading effect on the public and could undermine confidence in law enforcement.

Lambino has dismissed the complaint as “pure political harassment” aimed at silencing dissent against the administration.