House Quad Committee Chairman and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers had enough of the malicious and libelous content spread by vloggers on social media.
According to the lawmaker, vloggers are posting outright lies against the Quad Comm panel, including his brother Surigao del Norte Governor Lyndon Barbers. Due to this, he requested that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) identify, investigate, and prosecute the alleged illegal drugs and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO)-funded vloggers.
In a letter dated November 25, Barbers informed NBI Chief Jaime Santiago of the videos circulating online. According to the former, such videos damage the integrity of public service and foster an environment of confusion, distrust, and deception of public perception.
"Very obvious na well-organized at bayaran ang mga vloggers na ito na gustong sirain ang pangalan ko, ng kapatid ko, at mga Quadcom members. Sabi nila, ito yung mga bayarang grupo ng tagapag kalat ng kasinungalingan. Siguro nasasaktan na ang kanilang mga employers na POGO operators at drug lords dahil sa patuloy na Quadcom investigations," Barbers said.
Due to this, he asked that the NBI help the Committee determine the identity of the people or group involved. The damaging and misleading vlogs included Quad Comm members such as Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, and Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano.
Barbers urged the NBI Cybercrime Division to file appropriate charges against the vloggers, citing the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. The lawmaker mentioned that the following can be considered as possible charges for the vloggers: libel, sedition, conspiracy to commit sedition, incriminating innocent persons, and intrigue against honor.
The House Quad Committee is composed of lawmakers who are leading separate Committees on investigations related to POGO crimes, illegal drugs, and extrajudicial killings during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
