Davao City: The Philippine National Police (PNP) has initiated legal proceedings against a vlogger accused of disseminating false information regarding a police raid on former President Rodrigo Duterte's residence in Davao City.

According to Philippines News Agency, the PNP's move to file charges marks the inaugural action of its newly formed Anti-Fake News Action Committee, dedicated to combating the spread of disinformation. Col. Randulf Tua±o, chief of the PNP Public Information Office, emphasized in a press conference at Camp Crame that the vlogger's claims were fabricated and intended to mislead the public.

The vlogger is facing charges under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code for Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances, in conjunction with Section 6 of Republic Act 10175, known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. The Police Regional Office 11, with support from the PNP Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 11, lodged the criminal complaint at the Hall of Justice in Ecoland, Davao City.

The vlogger had alleged that 30 operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and 90 Special Action Force members from Luzon would conduct a raid on Duterte's home on April 30, leading to a gathering of Duterte's supporters at the location. The vlogger boasts a following of 218,000 subscribers and has amassed over 2 million views across 218 videos.

In a separate incident, CIDG operatives apprehended three individuals linked to a viral video showing them impersonating passengers to steal from commuters. Col. Marlon Quimn, chief of CIDG - National Capital Region, reported that the suspects were detained following a complaint from a 37-year-old woman who had her cellphone snatched on Commonwealth Avenue. The suspects, known to frequent bus stops along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Batasan Tunnel, and in front of the Sandiganbayan, have been charged with theft and robbery at the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office.