Pangilinan to raise NBI's fake news probe to Bayanihan Act's oversight panel

Senator Francis Pangilinan on Thursday expressed opposition to the National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) probe on ordinary citizens who aired their sentiments on social media amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) health emergency.

"Mali ang pigilan ang mga taong hanapin ang serbisyong ipinangako ng gobyerno. Mali ang parusahan ang mga taong naniningil ng pondong galing sa buwis nila at inalaan para sa kanila," Pangilinan said in a statement.

"Mali na dahas o banta ng kaso ang isusukli sa kanilang karapatan at tungkuling papanagutin ang gobyerno," he added.

Pangilinan said he will raise the matter to the Congressional Joint Oversight Committee reviewing the implementation of the executive's additional powers pursuant to Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

"Yang exposé ni Dean Diokno ay itatanong natin sa Joint Oversight Committee na bubuuhin ayon din sa batas na nasabi," Pangilinan said.

Earlier in the day, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno bared that a netizen asked for his assistance after receiving a subpoena from the NBI.

The violation cited in the subpoena dated April 1, however, was Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code or the unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances in connection with your publicly posted article concerning an alleged misused (sic) of government funds.

The subject was commanded to appear at the NBI's headquarters in Manila on April 7 to shed light on the said violation.

NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin confirmed that the bureau has issued more than a dozen subpoenas in relation to its investigation on misinformation or "fake news."

The recently-enacted Bayanihan to Heal as One Act also has a specific penal provision for purveyors of false information but Pangilinan pointed out Section 7 of the measure which states that "Nothing herein shall be construed as an impairment, restriction, or modification of the provisions of the Constitution."

"Sa Saligang Batas, sinisiguro ang kalayaang maghayag ng saloobin. Article 3, Section 4 states that 'No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.'" Pangilinan said.

The senator also demanded quicker government response to the needs of the public amid the COVID-19 situation.

"Kalusugan, kabuhayan, at mismong buhay na ng mga tao ang nakataya. Sagutin ang tanong at hinaing ng taong-bayan," he said. —LDF, GMA News