Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said law enforcers were now tracking down individuals and groups allegedly involved in supposed plans to disrupt the State of the Nation Address (Sona).
‘We respect every Filipino’s right to free expression, but we will take appropriate legal action against individuals who use digital platforms to incite violence, spread credible threats, or facilitate criminal activities,’ Nartatez maintained in a statement on Thursday.
‘The PNP, through our Anti-Cybercrime Group and in close coordination with the CICC (Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center) and other partner agencies, is actively pursuing all available leads to identify those behind these online accounts,’ he noted.
The CICC previously flagged at least nine individuals and groups allegedly involved in online efforts to gather and create disturbances in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth Sona.
The individuals and groups were detected through the CICC’s cyber monitoring operations as part of security measures during the Sona, according to the agency’s chief, Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso.
‘We urge the public to remain vigilant, avoid sharing unverified or malicious content, and immediately report suspicious online posts to the authorities,’ Nartatez stressed.
The Sona proceeded last Monday without any untoward incidents, despite the recovery of two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) outside the Department of Justice and the Senate as well as the arrest of 51 individuals at a rally along Commonwealth Avenue, according to the PNP.
On Wednesday, Nartatez said the PNP already had leads into the origin of the recovered IEDs.
Further, nine of the 51 individuals arrested at the Sona rally were charged with malicious mischief, disobedience to a person in authority and obstruction of justice, while the rest were released from custody