(Eagle News)—The National Bureau of Investigation has filed an inciting to sedition charge against the man authorities said was behind an online site that was among those that propagated the “Bikoy” videos against President Rodrigo Duterte’s family.
In filing the charge in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act against Robert Jayme, the NBI, in a resolution signed by Vicente de Guzman III, deputy director of the investigation service, noted what it said were conversations between the administrator of metrobalita.net and one Maru Nguyen and Maru Xie, apparently the same person, in which the “continuity of their efforts to conduct their scurrilous libelous attacks against the government” was seen.
The NBI said in one instance, for example, Maru Nguyen told Jayme, who also goes by the alias Rodel Jayme Hisona, that the United States Drug Enforcement Agency was already investigating Duterte.
“The conversations also revealed that these attacks are planned and with backing from certain personalities,” the NBI said.
For this, according to the NBI, Maru Nguyen told Jayme: “Baka kausapin ka ng Magdalo.”
The NBI said Maru Nguyen also mentioned a certain “Filmore,” an alleged member of the group.
“The law did not require a person to be involved in seditious acts as long as the elements are met, one can be charged to be in violation of Article 142,” the NBI said.
It said the article of the Revised Penal Code in particular said that one incites to sedition if he or she, among others, circulates “scurrilous libels against the Government of the Philippines or any of the duly constituted authorities thereof, or which tend to disturb or obstruct any lawful officer in executing the functions of his office, or which tend to instigate others to cabal and meet together for unlawful purposes or which suggest or incite rebellious conspiracies or riots or which lead or tend to stir up the people against the lawful authorities or to disturb the peace of the community, the safety and order of the government or who shall knowingly conceal such evil practices.”
“In addition, Jayme and his cohorts did not just share/liked (sic) the videos. Instead the posting is a concerted effort (not merely a statement of opinion) directed to a more complicated result,” the NBI said, naming as other “frontrunners” that posted and shared the videos as Pinoy Ako Blog, Change Scamming, Madam Claudia and What the FACT blog.
The NBI said the YouTube account with the handle “Ang Totoong Narco-list” was the first to upload the video.
“Seditious words or speeches, write, publish or circulate scurrilous libels (sic) can now be done electronically (social media and blog web pages) and being online it now caters to a larger and wider audience,” the NBI said. With a report from Moira Encina
