NBI arrests vlogger for 'threat' vs Pres Marcos
Published Oct 8, 2025 04:56 pm
A vlogger has been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Pagadian City for an alleged threat he made in social media against President Marcos.
NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago on Wednesday, Oct. 8, presented before the media the arrested person he identified as Michael Romero who will be charged with inciting to sedition under Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) in relation to Republic Act (RA) No. 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Santiago said that Romero was apprehended by operatives of the NBI’s Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD) in Pagadian City last Oct. 7 over a Facebook post which showed a photo of Marcos in earthquake-hit Bogo City in Cebu.
The photo also showed an arrow on the head of Marcos with the caption “headshot,” he also said.
A well-known sharpshooter during his time as a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Santiago explained: “‘Pag sinabing i-headshot ka ay babarilin ka sa ulo (a headshot means the gun’s is aimed at the head).”
He said that the NBI later learned that the caption was changed by Romero who explained that the first caption was meant as a joke.
However, Santiago said it would be better for Romero to offer his explanation before the prosecutor or the court where he might get charged.
“Alam n’yo ang NBI ay nire-respeto ang mga karapatan ng mga mamamahayag, social media practitioners sa kanilang malayang pagko-comment (The NBI respects the rights of the journalists and social media practitioners in their freedom to make comments),” Santiago said.
“Pero ito isa na namang trinabaho ng NBI dahil lumampas na s’ya sa parameter na pinag-bibigyan natin (However, the person that the NBI worked on went over the parameters that we allow),” he pointed out.
“Ano mang threat, tangka sa buhay ng Pangulo, Pangalawang Pangulo, Senate President, Speaker of the House, Chief Justice ay primary jurisdiction ng NBI (The NBI has primary jurisdiction over threats made against the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chief Justice),” he said.