Screengrab from alleged SAF shooting video
MANILA, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation will file charges against those found to have disseminated the six-minute video of the killing of a Special Action Force (SAF) commando in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
“The transfer is a violation of the immoral doctrines law for the public display of a video which is contrary to public morals,” said NBI Director Virgilio Mendez.
Mendez also warned that DVD copies of these videos will be seized on sight and the owner arrested.
NBI agents all over the country have been ordered to immediately seize DVD copies of the video and conduct raids against those who reproduce and distribute or sell videos similar to the one showing the still alive but wounded PO2 Joseph Sagonoy being shot at close range by a still unidentified
Moro rebel during the Jan. 25 clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, in which 44 SAF commandos were killed.
According to Mendez, a frame-by-frame forensic analysis of the two cell phones seized from the people believed to have first uploaded the video in Davao City and Kidapawan has already begun.
“Our computer experts have started the forensic analysis to identify the other personalities in the film clip,” he said.
Mendez said the owners of the cell phones that were used to upload the original recording have identified the Moro rebel who shot the video and the latter is now being hunted by the NBI.
NBI computer experts earlier said that the six-minute video was in its original form and not spliced contrary to some claims.
Mendez said the owners of the seized cell phones are now cooperating with the NBI investigation but are still “persons of interest” though they have not been arrested.
Vic Lorenzo, executive officer of the NBI Anti-Cybercrime Division, said the owners of the two cell phones had also authorized the NBI to go over their Internet history, which he said could expedite the process.
Earlier, the NBI said that the transfer of the video was performed through Bluetooth.
One of the cell phone owners, whom the NBI earlier identified as Zaldy Susot, claimed they had no agenda in uploading the video showing the shooting of Sagonoy, Lorenzo said.
Lorenzo said Susot, a small-time businessman based in Davao City, uploaded the video to his Facebook account. It received more than a million hits before it was taken down.