Cop faces sedition raps for post vs BBM, PNP

Think before you click. A policeman learned this lesson the hard way, as he now faces a criminal case for publicly demonizing President Marcos amid the arrest and turnover of former president Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

- EMMANUEL TUPAS

The Quezon City Police District announced on Monday that it has filed a complaint before the office of the city prosecutor against a QCPD member, Pat. Francis Steve Fontillas, for violating Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code, or inciting to sedition, in relation to Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Hours before the QCPD made the announcement, Fontillas continued his online tirade against Marcos and even issued threatening remarks on the life of the President.

"Even though you are the President of the Philippines, even if you are the richest person in the world, you cannot trample on my dignity as a person," Fontillas declared.

In taking a decisive action against Fontillas, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said the patrolman made unauthorized and politically charged social media posts about Duterte’s arrest, actions which violated the PNP’s strict adherence to neutrality.

“The PNP is a pillar of law and order, not a platform for personal or political agendas. Let this serve as a warning, any police officer who undermines our core values of integrity, service and professionalism will face the full force of the law,” Marbil said in a statement.

Even if Marcos is the commander-in-chief of the 235,000-strong PNP, Fontillas said he is not obligated to follow the President’s orders.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said Fontillas entered the police service in 2021, and right away his superiors noticed something was off due to his erratic behavior.