Iniutos na ng Department of Justice (DOJ) sa National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) na imbestigahan ang reklamo ni Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan laban sa dalawang YouTube channels kaugnay ng umano’y pagpapakalat ng fake news laban sa kanya at sa pamilya nito.
Ito ang kinumpirma ni State Counsel Angela Maria De Gracia ng Office of Cybercrime ng DOJ, nitong Huwebes.
Sa kanyang reklamo, tinukoy ng senador ang YouTube channels na “Starlet” at “Latest Chika.”
Idinahilan ni Pangilinan, nilabag ng dalawang channel ang Section 4(c)(4) ng Republic Act (RA) No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012) na may kaugnayan sa Article 355 ng Revised Penal Code.
Kasama rin sa inirereklamo ng senador ang Google Philippines country manager na si Bernadette Nacario dahil sa paglabag sa Section 20(b)(1) ata Section 30(j) ng RA 10175.
“Due to said public and malicious imputations, I suffered and continue to suffer damage to my good name, reputation, and career as a public servant. The public and malicious imputations have also caused serious anxiety and stress to me and my family,” ayon sa complaint affidavit ni Pangilinan.
Kapag natukoy na aniya ang nasa likod ng dalawang YouTube channels, itutuloy ng senador ang pagsasampa ng kaso laban sa mga ito at plano rin niyang gamiting ebidensya ang mga nakalap niyang datos.
Ikinatwiran nito, pag-aari ng Google ang YouTube at mayroon din aniyang responsibilidad si Nacario na pangasiwaan ang operasyon ng kumpanya.
“A total of 82 videos have been reported to be defamatory against Sen. Pangilinan and his family. The reports contain the time stamps, exact defamatory statements (in Filipino) and the legal basis on why such statements are in violation of the defamatory law in the Philippines. The common statements raised by the defamatory reports are Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan committing adultery by having an illicit affair with another man, and Sen. Pangilinan committing acts of violence (physical assault) against his wife which is in violation of the Violence Against Women and Children Act,” ayon sa sinumpaang salaysay ni Pangilinan.
“As explained in the complaint to Google, under Philippine laws, a matter is defamatory when it imputes a crime, vice, defect, or any act, or omission, condition, status or circumstance, tending to cause the dishonor, discredit or contempt to a person. From the defamatory complaints submitted, Google, as a service provider, has knowledge of the existence of the defamatory videos, and it still refused to remove such videos despite being informed of its defamatory nature which is in violation of the Philippine laws and even YouTube’s own Community Guidelines and its Policy, Safety and Copyright Policies,” ang bahagi pa ng reklamo ng senador.
Jeffrey Damicog
