Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (File photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police has tracked down the account on video-sharing app Tiktok that was behind the supposed slay threat against presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) director Brig. Gen. Robert Rodriguez said the account, bearing the username @ljluna7, had already been deleted, but they were able to gather evidence.
According to the screenshots, @ljluna7 commented on a stream of Tiktok user @joiedevivre420, a vocal supporter of Marcos, saying in Tagalog: “We hold meetings every day to prepare to assassinate BBM. Be warned,” and “Joie, we will have BBM killed on the election day itself.”
“[However,] we have to bear in mind that TikTok app is something that people don’t take seriously. It is usually used to relieve one’s stress through dancing, lip-synching, acting or dubbing,” he said. “So, before we conclude anything … we have to investigate and validate the veracity of the report.”
Rodriguez ordered regional units of the ACG to “monitor 24/7” similar issues and concerns involving all candidates, as ordered by PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos to ensure peaceful and honest elections.
Lawyer Charito Zamora, head of the DOJ Office of Cybercrime, said the National Bureau of Investigation would have to secure a disclosure warrant from the court to legitimize information authorities may get from TikTok.
“They’re still gathering information to support the application for a disclosure warrant,” Zamora told reporters. “There’s already an initial information as to [the identity of the TikTok user] but I’m not at liberty to [divulge it] since this is an ongoing investigation.”
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