With the court, in reality, not issuing a temporary restraining order that he requestrd to stop the arrest warrant from being effected.
This week, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) formally endorsed to the Department of Justice the filing of appropriate charges against four Facebook accounts.
The have been identified as KaChizmaze, Booc TVs, Cris Lademora, and Lenny Quirz / Linie Quirong, who allegedly published substantially similar posts claiming that the SC had “officially stopped” any attempt to arrest or surrender Senator Dela Rosa to the International Criminal Court (ICC) or any foreign authority.
Dela Rosa, who is currently at-large, is facing arrest from the ICC for his participation as an “indirect co-perpetrator” in the drug war of the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte in his capacity as the former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from 2016 to 2018.
“The Supreme Court, in fact, denied Senator Dela Rosa’s petition for a temporary restraining order to stop his arrest on the basis of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC),” the PCO Anti-Fake News Desk said in its narrative report, which was endorsed by PCO Director Robertzon Ramirez.
Dela Rosa’s prayer fot a TRO was denied by the high court, which resulted to the implementation of a manhunt operation by the DOJ, together with the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to search for Dela Rosa, who was last seen exiting the Senate building on the wee hours of May 14.
The posts, according to the PCO, were presented as news, using phrases such as “JUST IN,” “Breaking News,” “landmark ruling,” and “The Court clearly stated,” which may be taken in relation to Article 154, paragraph 1 of the Revised Penal Code.
Collectively, these generated thousands of reactions, comments, and shares, with some users asking whether the claim was true or calling to stop Dela Rosa’s arrest.
The matter was also endorsed for evaluation for possible violation of Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 10951, in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
PCO Secretary Dave Gomez, meanwhile, reiterated the government’s serious drive to stop the dissemination of disinformation and fake news on social media.
He stressed that they cause public harm and erode public trust in government and democratic institutions.
“We warn vloggers and users of social media platforms: do not exploit public confusion for views, engagement, or monetization by spreading false news. Fabricating a Supreme Court ruling and presenting it as news is a serious offense,” Gomez said.
The PCO, likewise, said it will continue to monitor, document, and refer verified criminal disinformation to the proper authorities.