Manila: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday praised the filing of criminal charges against four overseas Filipino worker (OFW) vloggers accused of manipulating interviews with government officials to spread disinformation online. The vloggers, identified as Maricel Tondi, Jennifer dela Cruz, Jacinta Cayme Antasuda, and Cherry Lyn David Capanas, face multiple complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

According to Philippines News Agency, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has taken legal action against the vloggers, marking it as a significant move in the fight against disinformation. Gatchalian expressed that fake news is divisive and undermines institutions, and emphasized that no one, whether in the Philippines or abroad, should be above the law.

The NBI reported that the vloggers, who are overseas Filipino workers, distributed edited videos of NBI Director Jaime Santiago, misrepresenting his statements regarding the potential arrest of OFW vloggers involved in spreading false narratives online. These actions have led to charges under the Revised Penal Code, including violations of the Anti-Alias Law (Art. 178), unlawful use of publication and utterances (Art. 154), intriguing against honor (Art. 364), and inciting to sedition (Art. 142), in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Gatchalian called for prompt legal proceedings to prevent further digital deception, highlighting the importance of safeguarding public discourse from manipulation.