No politics in raps vs Duterte allies – NBI

MANILA, Philippines — With the National Bureau of Investigation recommending charges against allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte, NBI Director Jaime Santiago has asserted that he is not beholden to any political faction.

“We’re not doing this because President Marcos is the target of their attacks, but because they are spreading fake news,” Santiago told reporters yesterday.

“Don’t say this is politics because no one is dictating me. We are addressing rampant fake news that has become a problem,” he noted.

Inciting to sedition and cyberlibel charges were recommended by the NBI against former presidential spokesman Harry Roque and vlogger Claire Contreras, also known as Maharlika.

A computer forgery case has also been proposed over the proliferation of a deepfake “polvoron” video showing President Marcos supposedly snorting cocaine.

Forensic analysis debunked the “polvoron” video as generated by artificial intelligence, Santiago reiterated.

At a House tri-committee hearing on April 8, vlogger Pebbles Cunanan testified that Roque allegedly released the video in time for Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address in July 2024.

Roque, who is seeking political asylum in the Netherlands, told the NBI to “bring it on,” saying the court would provide an avenue for the President to “disprove the endless allegations of his cocaine use and addiction.”

The NBI has also filed complaints against lawyer Raul Lambino and Duterte Youth party-list chairman Ronald Cardema for falsely claiming that the Supreme Court issued on March 11 a temporary restraining order stopping the government from enforcing an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Duterte.

In an interview with ANC yesterday, Cardema chided the NBI for “harassing” him instead of resolving kidnapping cases victimizing the Filipino-Chinese community.

Roque’s ‘polvoron’

There is sufficient evidence to file cyberlibel charges against Roque, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said Monday.

“Through the use of the internet, Roque is trying to make it appear that the President is using cocaine when Cunanan, the DOJ and other government resource persons certified that this is deepfake and not true,” Luistro told ANC.

The House tri-comm’s inquiry into the prevalence of fake news, disinformation and misinformation on social media is significant for the security and safety of Filipinos, she said. – Jose Rodel Clapano