THE Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-cyber Crime Group (ACG) has received nearly 800 complaints of cyber-libel or defamation through the use of social media, a police official said on Tuesday, November 13.
Senior Inspector Artemio Cinco Jr., PNP-ACG spokesperson, said that of the 2,958 complaints which they received from January to September, 792 were cyber libel or an attack against a person’s character or identity through social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
He said they also received 741 complaints on online scam, swindling and estafa and 296 were voyeurism.
On Monday, sexy actress Keanna Reeves, Janet Derecho Duterte in real life, was arrested for cyber libel.
“Nag-live upload siya sa isang store then dun niya pinagmumura itong ating complainant sa recall po ng ating complainant July 14 po then July 15 may another upload hanggang nasira po ang pagkatao ng ating complainant that urged the person to file the case,“ Laguna Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Chief Cyruss Serrano said.
Cinco said those found guilty of cyber libel may be imprisoned for six years and one day up to 12 years depending on the discretion of the court. Bail may be set at P20,000 to P200,000.
Aside from Reeves, other personalities who have been charged with cyber libel are Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa and lawyer Lorna Kapunan.
Ressa was charged by Wilfredo Keng for allegedly spreading fake news while Kapunan was charged by a dean from the University of Santo Tomas for claiming that he recruited hazing victim Horacio Castillo Jr. (SunStar Philippines)