The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has requested the Department of Justice (DOJ) to review and initiate appropriate charges against four Facebook accounts for allegedly spreading false information that the Supreme Court (SC) had stopped the arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
Through its Anti Fake News Desk (AFND), the PCO said the circulating posts falsely claimed that the SC issued a ruling preventing authorities from arresting or surrendering Dela Rosa to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The agency clarified that the claim was untrue, stressing that the Supreme Court had, in fact, denied Dela Rosa’s petition for a temporary restraining order against his arrest based on an ICC warrant.
“The Supreme Court, in fact, denied Senator Dela Rosa’s petition for a temporary restraining order to stop his arrest on the basis of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC),” the AFND said in its report submitted to the DOJ on Monday.
The endorsement covers Facebook accounts and pages identified as KaChizmaze, Booc TVs, Cris Lademora, and Lenny Quirz or Linie Quirong.
According to the PCO, the accounts published similar content falsely stating that the Supreme Court had “officially stopped” efforts to arrest Dela Rosa, using formats such as “JUST IN,” “Breaking News,” and “landmark ruling” to present the claims as legitimate news.
The posts reportedly generated thousands of reactions, shares, and comments, with some users seeking confirmation while others reacted to the alleged development.
The PCO said the matter has been referred to the DOJ for possible violations of Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act 10951, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
PCO Secretary Dave Gomez reiterated the government’s warning against the spread of disinformation online, particularly content that fabricates court decisions.
“We warn vloggers and users of social media platforms: do not exploit public confusion for views, engagement, or monetization by spreading false news. Fabricating a Supreme Court ruling and presenting it as news is a serious offense,” Gomez said.
Photo courtesy of Rappler
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