Turns out there are consequences for spreading baseless information online.
In a resolution released over the weekend and dated June 11, the Pasay Prosecutor’s Office recommended that a libel case be filed against pro-Duterte blogger Rey Joseph “RJ” Nieto, the man behind the socio-political blog Thinking Pinoy.
Opposition senator Antonio Trillanes IV had filed a libel case against Nieto in November after the blogger alleged in a Facebook post that United States President Donald Trump called the senator a “narco.”
However, Trillanes said this was baseless as those words were not found in transcripts provided by the U.S. embassy.
This information, however, was brought to light after Nieto had already shared the post to his more than 1 million Facebook followers.
Today, the post alluding to Trillanes has 61,000 reactions, more than 15,000 shares, and more than 3,000 comments.
https://www.facebook.com/TheThinkingPinoy/photos/a.618019291678511.1073741829.567419693405138/939336286213475/?type=3&theater
According to the resolution from the prosecutor’s office, Nieto violated section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cyber-crime Prevention Act of 2012.
“Respondent may be indicted for Cyber-libel, the libel, being committed via Facebook, which necessarily uses a computer system,” the resolution reads.
“The post is also malicious, as no good intention and justifiable motive for making it is shown.”
Those tried for libel could face at least 6 months to one year to 6 years in prison if found guilty.
Nieto is just one of the many pro-Duterte bloggers that have been accused of spreading false information.
Mocha Uson, a former pop star, and blogger who currently serves as an assistant secretary for the Presidential Communications Operations Office is also known for spreading false information, usually against those who oppose President Rodrigo Duterte.
In April, youth activists filed a complaint against Uson before the Office of the Ombudsman and called for her dismissal for sharing fake news.
