(Updated, 12:50 p.m.) “The era of fake news is over,” Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said as he filed seven criminal and administrative charges against Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson at the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday for spreading “fake news” about his supposed offshore bank accounts.
“Ngayong umaga nag-file po tayo ng various cases laban kay (This morning, we filed various cases against) Ms. Mocha Uson. Bale pito ito lahat —isang administrative case for grave misconduct at anim na criminal cases (These are a total of seven cases—one administrative case for grave misconduct and six criminal cases),” Trillanes said in an interview with reporters after the filing of cases.
In filing the administrative case, the senator said he would seek Uson’s “immediate dismissal” from office.
Trillanes said the cases filed against Uson are three counts of cyberlibel; a case for the violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for using her position to cause undue harm; a case for the violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Ethics for Public Employees and Officials for the continued practice of her profession; a case for the falsification of documents; and an administrative charge for grave misconduct.
“The era of fake news is over .Ang lahat ng mga magkakalat ng fake news ngayon ay mananagot sa ating batas. So ‘yan ang kailangang matutunan ng lahat (Those who spread fake news will answer to the law. That is what everyone has to learn),” Trillanes said.
The senator had earlier warned that he would sue the entertainer-turned-public-official for libel as she posted photos on her social media account of his supposed bank accounts in Singapore.
READ: It’s a go, says Trillanes on libel case vs Mocha
President Rodrigo Duterte had echoed Uson’s claims but later admitted that he “invented” the information after Trillanes disproved the allegations by flying to Singapore and checking it with the banks allegedly involved.
READ: Duterte: I ‘invented’ bank account number of Trillanes
Uson told Trillanes to Google the word “alleged,” which was included when she posted the details of the senator’s supposed hidden wealth.
She said that she would resign if Trillanes would win the case. /idl
Senator Antonio Trillanes files libel against PCOO Asec. Mocha Uson at the Ombudsman, Quezon City. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer
Photo: Trillanes Office Media
Photo: Trillanes Office Media
