PNP validating reports of alleged assassination plot vs Bongbong

MANILA, Philippines — Police are validating reports of an alleged plot to kill presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that was reportedly seen on short-form video platform TikTok, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

Marcos’ camp has reached out to the police organization and that a task group will be assigned to take on the matter once validation of reports is done, according to PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos.

“We are open because our commitment is to secure everyone, and our commitment is for a peaceful election. If there is such a report, we will work (on) it,” Carlos told reporters.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday said the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s Office of Cybercrime (OOC) received an online tip about the post in question on social media platform TikTok, in which a user supposedly posted a comment about an assassination plot against Marcos.

Guevarra added that the OOC had already requested the preservation of the suspect’s account.

The National Bureau of Investigation is working on the case, according to the justice secretary, adding that they are checking the report because “if a bomb joke is actionable, so is a threat of assassination, whether true or not.”

Marcos’ spokesman Vic Rodriguez lauded the OOC for its action and stressed that their camp is not afraid of the threat.

Meanwhile, senatorial aspirant and former PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar urged the DOJ, PNP and other agencies to also probe threats and harassment made against other local and national candidates.

“From threats of rape, harm and killing, these people (making posts) are so emboldened because they can easily get away with it (since) no one is reporting (them) due to the mindset that nothing’s ever going to be done about it,” Eleazar said in a statement, as he also noted how bullying and threats have been become normal on social media.

Aside from political and other popular personalities, he said the usual victims are also ordinary citizens – the threats and harassment range from differences of opinion on politics to religion, and even personal reasons.

Eleazar said should he be elected as senator, he would be working on holding these people accountable and propose laws to strongly police social media content and posts that threaten other people or incite violence.

“We need to strengthen the power of the state in social media platforms because the mindset that the government can’t do anything to these threats can’t go on anymore… What’s the use of the government if it can’t protect its constituents?” he added.

The former PNP chief also called on other netizens and victims of threats and harassment to fight back either by reporting the incidents to proper authorities or through comments and reactions that would not sacrifice decency and the responsible use of social media.