NBI probes death hoaxes targeting Ombudsman

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has launched a probe into the circulation of false social media reports claiming the death of Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, officials said Sunday.

Acting NBI director Angelito Magno warned that the spread of such misinformation could constitute a violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and stressed that the NBI has jurisdiction over online offenses that involve disinformation and libel.

“The NBI regularly assists both government agencies and private individuals in cases involving misinformation and disinformation,” Magno said, citing that the bureau is managing an increasing volume of cybercrime complaints.

In addition to the death hoax investigation, Magno said the bureau is intensifying its crackdown on the sale of illegal and unregulated medical products online.

The effort is being coordinated with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Health.

The NBI chief cited that the focus on unregulated drugs followed a recent privilege speech by Sen. Raffy Tulfo, who raised concerns over the proliferation of health-related scams and unverified medicines on digital platforms.