Cebu vlogger arrested altering PBBM quote

A female vlogger from Oslob, Cebu, has been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for allegedly spreading fake news, falsely attributing statements to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. She was apprehended by NBI Central Visayas Regional Office (NBI CEVRO) agents on the evening of 20 March.

The 30-year-old content creator’s arrest came after NBI’s cyber patrolling efforts led them to her social media post, which misrepresented a statement from President Marcos.

According to NBI-7 Regional Director Renan Agustus Oliva, the vlogger posted that illegal drugs had been legalized, falsely citing Marcos and expressing sympathy for innocent victims. Additionally, she edited a TV5 news post from 14 March, inserting a fabricated statement that read, “Gumawa tayo ng batas na gawing legal ang droga sa ating bansa.”

("Let’s create a law that makes drugs legal in our country.")

NBI Director Judge Jaime Santiago, in an interview with dzBB on Saturday, emphasized that the agency is closely monitoring online activities, particularly from vloggers and non-legitimate media practitioners, to prevent the spread of disinformation.

“Nagm-monitor ang NBI. Lalo naming ginawang seryoso ang pag-monitor namin sa mga vlogger, sa mga nag-papakalat ng fake news, ‘yung mga nag-a-alter ng tamang balita,” Santiago stated.

("The NBI is monitoring. We have made our monitoring of vloggers, those spreading fake news, and those altering correct information more serious.")

Santiago revealed that the NBI is coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) to strengthen measures against fake news dissemination. Social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok are also cooperating with authorities in removing misleading content.

During interrogation, the vlogger admitted that she had been altering and spreading false information for three years to earn money through social media engagement. She also apologized to President Marcos and pledged to stop such activities.

Santiago reiterated that while the NBI respects free speech and press freedom, spreading false information is a punishable offense. “Nirerespeto natin ang right sa free speech at press, pero iba ‘yung komentaryo o sariling pananaw lamang. Iba ‘yung fake news. Kapag fake na ang sinasabi mong news, saklaw na ‘yan ng ating batas.”

("We respect the right to free speech and press, but commentary or personal opinions are different. Fake news is another matter. When what you're saying is fake news, that falls under the scope of our laws.")

The vlogger is currently detained at NBI Central Visayas Regional Office (CEVRO) and will face charges for Illegal Use of Publication under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. If convicted, she could face imprisonment of six months to six years and a fine ranging from P40,000 to P200,000.