National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime B. Santiago on Tuesday, March 25, assured that the bureau has not been weaponized by the administration of President Marcos against its critics and dissenters.
Santiago made the assurance amid the investigation being conducted by the NBI against vloggers who are allegedly spreading fake news.
One of the vloggers had reportedly posted online that the President has legalized the use of illegal drugs.
Santiago had earlier disclosed that the NBI is investigating more than 20 vloggers and have already sought the help of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in its probe.
“Ever since po pinapaliwanag ko na sa ating taong bayan kami po ay apolitical (I have explained before the public that the NBI is apolitical),” said Santiago during an interview on ANC.
“Itong National Bureau of Investigation na isang institution na dapat mapagkatiwalaan ng tao na hindi kami kumikiling kahit kanino pa man (The NBI is an institution that every person can trust since we don’t take the side of anyone),” he added.
On its investigation of vloggers who spread alleged fake news, Santiago said: “‘Yung amin po ay pagpapatupad lamang ng batas (We are just implementing the law)."
A former police officer and a trial court judges, Santigo said the country upholds freedom of speech and freedom of expression.
He said: “Magbigay ka ng commentaries mo, ‘yan ang paniwala mo, okay lang po ‘yan at ang mga government officials po naman ay hindi dapat maging onion skin (it’s okay to give your commentaries on your personal views and government officials shouldn’t be too sensitive or be onion skinned).”
However, he said; "May hangganan ‘yung pagkocomment mo, pagbibigay mo ng opinion sa isang bagay (there is a limit to the comments and opinions on whatever topic).”
“Ang gusto namin masawata ay ‘yung lumalampas na po sa kanilang commentaries (What we are trying to do is to put a stop to those who go beyond their commentaries),” he also said.
He reminded that since he assumed the top NBP post, one of his main thrusts is to fight cybercrime.
He explained tht the investigation of the vloggers is being done to find out if they are connected to and if they receive instructions from certain individuals.
“Napapansin na po namin may parepareho po sila ng tema, ng sistema, ‘yung paninira, ‘yung ganoon disinformation. Parang iisa po ang pakay nila. (We observed that they have similar themes, similar systems, the way they criticize, the disinformation they spread. They seem to have one goal.) Was done maliciously in order to create panic,” he said.
“Kawawa naman ang ating mga kababayan. Hindi na alam kung alin ang tamang news at ang mali (Our countrymen become helpless. They don’t know what’s the right news and the wrong one),” he lamented.