The Philippine Navy has relieved and placed under investigation one of its officers for allegedly issuing a life-threatening social media post against an executive official of the Kabataan Partylist (PL) group.
Raoul Manuel, national president and first nominee of Kabataan PL, said in a Twitter post last March 19 that he received a death threat from a netizen who turned out to be connected to the military.
“The Philippine Navy was made aware of an unfortunate incident wherein a Navy officer is allegedly linked with a death threat directed to a president of a certain party list. This matter is currently being investigated by appropriate authorities, and the said officer has been relieved for a thorough investigation,” Commander Benjo Negranza, PN spokesperson, said in a statement sent to the Manila Bulletin on Monday, March 21.
Manuel identified the netizen who threatened him as Second Lt. Christleenjo D. Viloan, a PN Ensign and a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
“I just got a death threat. I got info from an anonymous source that he is connected to PMA,” Manuel said.
“ PMA admin and PH Navy must perform necessary action on him. Whatever happens to me will be held vs. PMA, AFP, related institutions promoting fascist mindset,” he added.
According to Manuel, Viloan reposted on his personal Facebook account a photo card of a media organization showing Kabataan PL’s reaction to the recent killing of Lumad teacher Chad Booc.
Booc, whom the military tagged as a New People’s Army (NPA) rebel, died in an alleged military encounter in New Bataan, Davao de Oro last February 24.
“Susunod ka na, Raoul (You are next, Raoul). Bye in advance,” Viloan supposedly said on his Facebook account which bears the pseudonym “DC Sliv.”
The Philippine Navy vowed to conduct an impartial probe on the incident and implement the necessary punishment on the officer if it turns out he violated the law.
“As an organization that seeks to protect the Filipino people, the Philippine Navy does not condone or tolerate irresponsible behaviors such as this. We take this incident seriously,” Negranza said.
“The Philippine Navy assures the public that appropriate sanction/s shall be meted if the incident that transpired are proven to be true,” he added.