Raps filed vs social media pages for libelous content, Marcos deepfake

Kapisanan ng Social Media Broadcasters ng Pilipinas, Inc. chairman Dr. Michael Raymond  Apacible Aragon files a complaint against individuals for unlawful publishing of illegal, immoral, and libelous content on their pages on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. INQUIRER.net / Faith Argosino

MANILA, Philippines — Kapisanan ng Social Media Broadcasters ng Pilipinas, Inc. (KSMBPI) filed criminal complaints on Tuesday against specific social media individuals for uploading or publishing “illegal, immoral and libelous content” on their accounts, including the viral deepfake video of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

KSMBPI chair Michael Raymond Aragon and the organization’s legal counsel, Anna Tan, formally lodged the complaints before the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG).

READ: PNP- ACG to probe vlogger over privacy breach

Aragon, however, opted to withhold the names of these personalities and their social media pages and sites. However, his lawyer said these individuals violated Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code (unlawful utterances or unlawful use of publication).

“We assure you we have names, we have websites; inaayos lang namin ito (we are just fixing it),” the group’s chair said during a short interview at the PNP-ACG office in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

When asked how many personalities are involved, Aragon only disclosed that they handle more or less four or five sites. But the complaint sheet sent to the media listed three pages — two YouTube channels and a Reddit account — for reportedly “disseminating deep fake audios, videos, and chat posts promoting anti-government propaganda.”

On the other hand, Tan explained that they also monitored each piece of content uploaded to these sites, checking for illegal, immoral, or libelous content.

READ: ‘Deepfake’: PCO disowns clip of Marcos ‘attack order’ vs China

In a video that went viral online last April, Marcos was supposedly commanding the Armed Forces of the Philippines to act against a foreign country.

Shortly after the content circulated online, the President’s office debunked the video, saying that “no such directive exists nor has been made.”

READ: Palace debunks viral deepfake video of President

The ACG earlier said that it had already coordinated with the Department of Information and Communications Technology on the matter.

The police force likewise appealed to anyone with vital information that would help them track the people behind the deepfake video to step forward and help them with the case.

It also warned that a heavy penalty awaits those responsible for the misleading content since it affects the chief executive and the country’s national security.

They may face charges for violating Article 154 of the RPC in connection with Section 6 of the Republic Act (RA) 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.