The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has referred to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the possible filing of charges against four social media accounts accused of spreading false information that the Supreme Court had blocked the arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
In a narrative report released on Monday, the PCO’s Anti-Fake News Desk clarified that the Supreme Court did not stop any potential arrest of the senator.
Instead, the high court denied dela Rosa’s request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a possible arrest stemming from a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
According to PCO Anti-Fake News Desk head Robertzon Ramirez, the Facebook accounts posted nearly identical claims alleging that the Supreme Court had “officially stopped” efforts to arrest or surrender dela Rosa to the ICC or any foreign authority.
Ramirez said the posts were presented as legitimate news reports, using phrases such as “JUST IN,” “Breaking News,” “landmark ruling,” and “The Court clearly stated,” which could constitute a violation of Article 154, paragraph 1 of the Revised Penal Code.
The PCO noted that the misleading posts gained significant online engagement, drawing thousands of reactions, comments, and shares. Some users reportedly questioned the accuracy of the claims, while others called for efforts to halt any move to arrest the senator.
The agency has endorsed the matter to the DOJ for evaluation of possible violations of Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 10951, in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Communications Secretary Dave Gomez reiterated the administration’s commitment to combating the spread of disinformation online and warned content creators against publishing fabricated information for profit or engagement.
“We warn vloggers and users of social media platforms: do not exploit public confusion for views, engagement, or monetization by spreading false news. Fabricating a Supreme Court ruling and presenting it as news is a serious offense.”
Gomez said the PCO would continue monitoring online platforms, documenting incidents of verified criminal disinformation, and referring such cases to the appropriate authorities.
On May 25, the Supreme Court denied dela Rosa’s application for a temporary restraining order against his possible arrest in connection with the ICC warrant, ruling that the petition lacked merit.