MANILA, Philippines — Saying sorry will not exempt an individual from being prosecuted, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Tuesday in an apparent reaction to the apology of a public teacher who was arrested for allegedly offering via Twitter a P50-million reward to anyone who can kill President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Apology is not one of the grounds for extinguishing criminal liability. I cannot feloniously injure another and get away with it by merely saying ‘sorry’,” Guevarra told reporters.
“I understand that this person has been placed in custody by the NBI and may be brought to an inquest. So I’ll leave it to the investigating prosecutor,” he added.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives collared Ronnel Mas, a public school teacher from Zambales, over his social media post. While on their way to Manila, Mas was filmed being questioned by an NBI agent on why he tweeted such an offer against Duterte.
The video was posted on Facebook and generated 960 reactions, 539 comments, and 831 shares.
In the video, the NBI operative asked Mas: “Would you like to apologize to the President and the people. You are asking an apology?”
“Sorry po ako kay Presidente at nagawa ko ‘yung tweet na ‘yun. Hindi ko po intensyon ‘yun,” said Mas, who was seated between his crying parents.
(I am sorry Mr. President that I wrote that tweet. It is not my intention [to have you killed].)
“What made you… do that?” asked the NBI agent.
“Sa totoo po kasi, ‘yung tweet na iyon kumbaga saloobin ko, walang pumapansin kaya nagawa ko ‘yun,” said Mas.
(In truth, that tweet was an expression of my feelings, nobody was giving attention that’s why I made that.)
“So, naghahanap ka ng atensyon sa Twitter (So, you were seeking attention on Twitter?),” the NBI operative asked.
“‘Yun po talaga ‘yung intensyon ko (That was really my intention),” the suspect said.
Mas is facing a complaint on Inciting to Sedition in relation to Republic Act 10175 or the Cyber Crime Prevention Act of 2012, and violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.