The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has apprehended a female vlogger accused of altering a statement by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to misleadingly suggest he supports drug legalization.
According to a GMA report on Friday, March 22, the vlogger edited a News5 video of Marcos’ campaign speech, adding a fabricated line calling for the legalization of drugs in the country. The manipulated clip later spread on Facebook, prompting the NBI to launch a probe.
The original speech by Marcos emphasized peaceful and lawful solutions to combat drugs and crime, rejecting violent approaches. However, the altered version inserted a fake sentence: “Gumawa tayo ng paraan na gawing ‘legal’ ang droga sa ating bansa,” falsely implying presidential support for drug legalization.
In a video, the vlogger admitted to creating and sharing the fake post for profit and apologized to President Marcos.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago warned the public against spreading fake news and misinformation. He confirmed that social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok are working with authorities to crack down on violators.
“Some do this for fun, but this isn’t a joke. There are legal consequences,” Santiago stressed.
The suspect faces charges under Article 152 of the Revised Penal Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. If convicted, she could face six months to six years in prison and a fine of up to P200,000.
