By Jennifer P. Rendon
President Rodrigo Duterte is the country’s head of state.
Offering a bounty for his head, whether done in jest or otherwise, is considered sedition.
This is what the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 6 (CIDG-6) stressed following the arrest of a construction worker who posted on Facebook a whooping P100-million reward to any person who can kill Duterte.
40-year-old Ronald Quiboyen, who currently drives a habal-habal while Aklan is under community quarantine, was arrested around 7 p.m. of March 12, 2020 at Sitio Hagdan, Barangay Yapak, Malay, Aklan.
In his FB post, Quiboyen said, “yong 50milyon nyo doblihin ko gawin kung 100milyon kung sino makapatay kay duterte andito ako ngayon sa boracay.”
His post was in response to another post made by Ronnel Mas, a 25-year-old teacher of Taltal National High School, via Twitter last May 5, 2020.
Mas’ post reads, “I will give ₱50 Million reward kung sino makakapatay kay Duterte (to anyone who can kill Duterte).”
Mas was arrested at Barangay North Poblacion, Sta. Cruz, Zambales on May 11.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Gervacio Balmaceda, CIDG-6 regional director, said Quiboyen’s post was flagged by “police cybercrime patrollers” around 1 p.m. of May 12.
He said they immediately got an order from the national headquarters to trace down the suspect.
At 3:30 p.m., Police Colonel Columbia Allan Aberia, chief of the PNP Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU) coordinated with Balmaceda and Police Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Pablito, Malay Police Station, for a joint operation.
Quiboyen was arrested a few hours later.
Balmaceda said the suspect would be charged for violation of Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code or Inciting to Sedition as amended, in relation Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).
Inciting to sedition is a crime against public order since the suspect might “instigate others to cabal and meet together for unlawful purposes, or which suggest or incite rebellious conspiracies or riots, or which lead or tend to stir up the people against the lawful authorities or to disturb the peace of the community, the safety and order of the Government, or who shall knowingly conceal such evil practices,” Balmaceda said.
THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY
Balmaceda said Quiboyen’s FB post was a threat to national security since he committed a seditious act against the highest elected official of the country.
When asked if the CIDG or other law-enforcement agencies would also go against social media users who threatened other high-ranking officials, “of course, we will.”
Balmaceda was also asked about previous posts against other ranking government officials, particularly Vice President Leni Robredo, who was also at the receiving end of threats, made in jest or otherwise.
“Kababayan ko si VP, and if we receive similar threatening posts, we would also go after these individuals,” Balmaceda said.
Meanwhile, when asked if how they took the post given the capacity of a mere construction worker to offer a P100 million reward, the CIDG-6 said they don’t take things in stride since the safety and the security of the President is at stake.
An ordinary citizen could complain if he or she is being threatened online but it might not fall under the purview of inciting to sedition.
