The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed criminal complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday against vlogger Jack Argota over the alleged online spread of fabricated medical records linked to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The cases involved cyber libel under the Cybercrime Prevention Act and unlawful publication under the Revised Penal Code, the bureau said.
Investigators said the complaint stemmed from the circulation and reposting on social media of documents falsely presented as the president’s medical records.
The NBI Cyber Crime Division submitted the complaint at the DOJ main office in Manila on Tuesday afternoon.
Records showed that Argota appeared before investigators after receiving a subpoena and admitted posting the materials online to boost engagement and follow trending content. He also said the documents were sourced from several social media pages claiming ties to pro-Marcos accounts.
The NBI said publishing or republishing false or unverified documents online may constitute cyber libel if the act causes dishonor or damage to a person’s reputation.
The bureau added that while freedom of expression is constitutionally protected, it does not extend to the reckless or malicious spread of false information that may cause public harm.
The NBI earlier filed similar cyber libel complaints against former broadcaster Jay Sonza and vlogger Jeffrey Luces Celiz over the same issue. The case against Argota is now under preliminary investigation at the DOJ.
