Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno said Thursday that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is summoning the netizens who expressed their sentiments online concerning the government’s response to pandemic COVID-19.
In an interview with ANC, Diokno said his client was summoned to appear before the NBI on April 7 without saying which social media post was being investigated.
Diokno said the NBI summons brings a chilling effect since his client posted a “fair commentary on matters of public interest” and not fake news.
“Tinanggap ko ang kasong ito dahil ‘di na makatao ang nangyayari. Ang dami nang namamatay, pati frontliners, pero imbes na COVID, kritiko ang gusto nilang puksain,” he said in a separate interview.
(I accepted this case because it was inhumane. The death toll, including frontliners, but instead of COVID, it is critics they want to kill.)
The NBI Cybercrime Division admitted in a statement the agency issued subpoenas that are related to their investigation on the spread of fake news on the deadly coronavirus.
It clarified the subpoenas have nothing to do with social media posts “that are critical of the government.”
Chel Diokno: NBI summons netizen who gave “fair commentary” on COVID response online
Meanwhile, the bureau confirmed that its cybercrime division already started issuing subpoenas to netizens who post fake news on different social media platforms.
“Ang pagkaintindi ko sa investigation division ng computer crimes may ipinadala na silang subpoena. Wala lang akong complete list kung ilan ang exact number because they want to stop ‘yung proliferation of fake news,” NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin told ABS-CBN News.’
(My understanding of the investigation division of computer crimes is that they already sent a subpoena. I just don’t have a complete list of the exact numbers because they want to stop the proliferation of fake news.)
The NBI spokesman also said the subpoena is for netizens to explain the evidence gathered against them from social media platforms.
Those who fail to appear before the initial subpoena date can request for it to be reset depending on the schedule of the agent and the division.
However, the NBI will resolve the case with whatever evidence it has on hand if they still fail to appear on the reset date agreed upon.
Diokno also defended Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, whom the NBI summoned to explain his alleged violation of Bayanihan We Heal as One-Act.