MANILA, Philippines — Vloggers filed libel charges yesterday against Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office after he asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe them for their alleged connection to illegal drugs and Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).
Trixie Cruz-Angeles, one of the complainants, said Barbers’ accusations have caused them “sleepless nights and fear among family members.”
“Some of our social media can be monetized, but there are dangers to be removed because of (the allegations) of fake news,” Angeles said.
Barbers, in a letter, asked the NBI to investigate “narco vloggers” allegedly connected to POGOs.
Barbers, who also chairs the House committee on dangerous drugs, said he wants the NBI to check the vloggers’ activities, which could be connected to POGOs.
The other complainants are Lorraine Badoy, Krizette Chu, Cathy Binag, Joie De Vivre, MJ Quiambao Reyes and Mark Anthony Lopez.