The Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) seemed to have jumped the gun when it announced yesterday that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested the alleged uploader of the controversial Ang Totoong Narco List video series.
DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a press briefing yesterday that suspect Rodel Jayme shared the videos but they have not confirmed if he uploaded them, contradicting what DOJ Office for Cybercrime Officer-in-Charge Charito Zamora said earlier that day, Rappler reported.
The viral videos allege that First Son Paolo Duterte, presidential son-in-law Manases Carpio, and President Rodrigo Duterte’s former aide Christopher “Bong” Go have links to the drug trade.
Gueverra said that the NBI found the suspect after discovering a website called Metro Balita, which “constantly” shared the videos. The NBI then found that the website was registered to Jayme. The Philippine Star reported that the links to the videos were allegedly first posted on the website.
The NBI’s Cybercrime Division managed to secure a search warrant for Jayme’s home in Parañaque City on Monday. The search occurred the next day, the same day the suspect was arrested.
“We could only confirm that he was the one who created [Metro Balita],” Guevarra said yesterday.
Jayme admitted that he created the website for supporters of the opposition Liberal Party but has denied any involvement in the creation of the controversial video series, ABS-CBN News reported.
He said that he turned control of the site over to his clients.
A woman named “Maru Xie” allegedly asked him to create the website to support Liberal Party candidates, GMA News reported. The two allegedly met in 2015 when they supported the same candidates in the 2016 presidential elections.
Xie allegedly gave him PHP2,500 (US$48.16) in February to buy the website’s domain, which was supposed to only be up for three months.
“I feel used that they had me create the website because I thought they just had me make it for a good purpose,” he said in Filipino, according to ABS-CBN News.
He also said that he feels betrayed.
“They abandoned me with something I know nothing about, it’s like they betrayed me. They uploaded the video without telling me, they know my name is on there,” he said, according to GMA News.
Jayme also said that his clients allegedly told him to hide after the videos went viral.
The NBI is now in possession of Jayme’s desktop computer and laptop and is investigating them for possible leads to the videos’ creator. The suspect also reportedly surrendered his internet bills and has agreed to work with authorities.
The NBI has filed charges of inciting to sedition in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 against Jayme, who is currently detained in their office, according to The Philippine Star.
