The Philippine National Police (PNP) has officially filed a cybercrime complaint against a male vlogger accused of spreading false information about an alleged police raid on the residence of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
According to the PNP, the case involves violations of the Revised Penal Code related to unlawful use of publication and utterances, in connection with the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. The complaint was jointly filed by the Police Regional Office 11 and the Anti-Cybercrime Group.
“This is in connection with a report made by a vlogger claiming that 30 Criminal Investigation and Detection Group personnel and 90 Special Action Force officers from Luzon raided the former president’s home on the night of April 30,” explained PNP Public Information Office chief Col. Randulf Tuaño during a media briefing.
While Davao City Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte previously raised concerns about law enforcement presence in their area, the PNP has since denied any such operation took place.
Tuaño declined to name the vlogger, noting that authorities are awaiting the issuance of a warrant before disclosing his identity. He confirmed, however, that the individual began vlogging in May 2020 and has since posted 218 videos, amassed over 218,000 subscribers, and garnered more than 20 million views.
To address the growing threat of disinformation, the PNP recently established the Joint Anti-Fake News Action Committee (JAFNAC), a multi-agency initiative aimed at cracking down on the proliferation of fake news and expediting the removal of false content online.
