NBI also going after social media users threatening Robredo -official

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is also going after individuals who made threats against Vice President Leni Robredo on social media, an official said Wednesday.

Nick Suarez, the NBI's public information office chief, confirmed that agents are also pursuing social media users who threatened the vice president, but he could not provide the status of the cases.

"I understand it is with the investigative and regional operations services," he said.

He said the investigations are in accordance with the NBI's mandate. The bureau has the authority to look into cases involving threats to security or assaults against the persons of the president, the vice president, the Senate president, the House speaker, and the chief justice of the Supreme Court, among several other kinds of cases.

NBI Director Eric Distor earlier said the bureau is "serious" in carrying out this mandate.

After the NBI arrested a teacher who purportedly tweeted an offer of a P50-million reward to anyone who could kill President Rodrigo Duterte, netizens, with screenshots as proof, asked the NBI to also arrest social media users who appeared to threaten the vice president in their posts.

NBI agents in Dagupan arrested a 25-year-old public high school teacher in Zambales on Monday over a tweet he posted purportedly to get attention.

The teacher, who has since apologized, faces a complaint for inciting to sedition in relation to cybercrime as well as for a violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials. He is in NBI custody.

The agent-in-charge of the NBI's Dagupan office reminded the public on Wednesday that the freedom of expression has limitations.

In Malay, Aklan, police arrested a construction worker who allegedly made a similar post on Facebook, in this case increasing the purported reward offer to P100 million. --KBK, GMA News