Manila: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe four social media accounts accused of disseminating misinformation about a Supreme Court (SC) decision regarding Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa's arrest warrant. The misinformation claims that the SC ruled to halt the arrest warrant against the senator.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DOJ confirmed receiving a referral from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on June 1, 2026, regarding posts that misrepresented the SC's ruling. DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez stated that the matter has been handed over to the NBI for investigation and potential legal action, including the filing of criminal charges if necessary.
The PCO identified the social media accounts involved as KaChizmaze, Booc TVs, Cris Lademora, and Lenny Quirz / Linie Quirong. These accounts allegedly shared false information suggesting the SC had issued a ruling to prevent authorities from arresting Dela Rosa or surrendering him to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The PCO's Anti-Fake News Desk (AFND) clarified that the SC actually denied Dela Rosa's petition for a temporary restraining order against the ICC-issued arrest warrant. The posts misleadingly portrayed the SC decision using phrases like 'JUST IN,' 'Breaking News,' and 'landmark ruling,' causing confusion among the public.
The PCO reported that these misleading posts received thousands of reactions, comments, and shares, leading to public uncertainty and calls for action to halt Dela Rosa's arrest. The agency referred the issue to the DOJ for potential violations of Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act (RA) 10951, in conjunction with Section 6 of RA 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
PCO Secretary Dave Gomez emphasized the administration's commitment to combating disinformation, cautioning content creators against spreading falsehoods disguised as news. Gomez warned against exploiting public confusion for personal gain, highlighting the seriousness of fabricating and misrepresenting court decisions.
