VLOGGER NABBED FOR ‘HEADSHOT’ POST ON PRESIDENT MARCOS

AGENTS of the National Bureau of Investigation-Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD) on Tuesday arrested a vlogger from Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur for uploading a photo of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with the word “headshot” as caption.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the word “headshot” for law enforcement agencies means “to shoot in the head.”

Nabbed was Michael Romero alias Mike Romero of Pagadian City.

In the October 3 post,  Romero shared a picture of President Marcos Jr. standing with other officials outside the earthquake-ravaged  Bogo City Hall in Bogo City, Cebu.

The photo was overlaid with a red arrow pointing at Marcos’ head with the single-word caption “headshot.”

“Sa mga law enforcement agency, kapag sinabing ihe-headshot ka ay babarilin ka sa ulo. Kaya ‘yun. Nagpapahiwatig siya ng ganoon. Kaya sineryoso namin ‘yung bagay na ‘yun,” Santiago in a press conference on Wednesday said.

The NBI director said the public has the right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression, but there are limits.

“Inuulit ko sa inyo, meron tayong karapatang mag- comment. Freedom of speech, kasama ‘yan, freedom of expression. Pero ‘yung magtatangka ka na sa buhay ng Presidente, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House, and the Chief Justice ay papasok ang NBI,”  Santiago said.

Meanwhile, the NBI later learned that the caption was changed by Romero to “Tama Talaga ang City Hall.”

Romero explained that the first caption (headshot) was meant as a joke.

The arrested vlogger is facing charges for inciting to sedition under Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 .

If proven guilty, the arrested vlogger may face up to six to 20 years in prison.