Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. will be filing cyber libel complaints against several individuals believed to have propagated misinformation about him during the election season, which he claims cost him a seat in the 20th Congress.
“Panahon na upang kumilos laban sa mapinsalang epekto ng fake news,” he said, as reported by RH 28 Raymund Dadpaas.
In a phone interview with Senate media, Revilla said he was targeted by a relentless barrage of fake news leading up to the national elections.
According to Dadpaas, these reports were related to the notorious pork barrel scam, from which Revilla was acquitted of plunder. However, bloggers allegedly circulated claims that he had not returned the ₱124 million in civil liability ordered by the Sandiganbayan.
The senator clarified he was not contesting the midterm election results, although he had fallen short of securing another term in the Senate at the 14th spot.
However, he believes this loss was largely affected by defamatory claims, which turned voters away.
“The camp of Senator Revilla is looking at the possibility of filing about five to 10 cyber libel cases against personalities on Facebook, social media, vloggers, and those who have their own websites, who have spread fake news about Senator Bong, which he attributes to be the reason why landed only 14 in the senatorial elections,” Revilla’s lawyer Atty. Raymond Fortun said.
Fortun announced that they will coordinate with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate and identify the alleged disinformation agents.
“What will happen first is that once that it is vetted, we will choose the ones who deserve, really, to be charged … to serve as an example as well to the public. Hindi naman kinakailangan na lahat (It does not need to be all of them),” he said.
