MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed two separate criminal complaints Tuesday, April 15, against allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte over disinformation in Duterte’s temporary restraining order (TRO) petition with the Supreme Court (SC).
The NBI filed complaints against former National Youth Commission chairperson Ronald Cardema and lawyer Raul Lambino for alleged violation of article 154 of the Revised Penal Code or unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances.
Lambino is currently running under PDP-Laban’s senatorial slate for 2025.
Duterte became the first former Philippine president and Asian head of state to be arrested over crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on March 11.
On the same day of his arrest, his longtime ally and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa filed a petition with the SC to seek the issuance of TRO in Duterte’s favor.
If granted, a TRO can prevent an order from being implemented. In Duterte’s case, his supporters thought it could have prevented the execution of his arrest and send-off to The Hague, Netherlands.
The disinformation broke out on the night of March 11, with Duterte supporters claiming a TRO had been issued that evening. Lawyers Israelito Torreon and Lambino even went to the SC — even though the High Court was already closed at the time — because they said they’ve heard a TRO had been issued.
This disinformation fueled online rage, even hyping the emotions of Duterte supporters protesting outside of Villamor Air Base, where the former president had been held.
On March 12, the SC announced that it had, in fact, denied the issuance of the TRO for the former president.
Recently, the SC also issued a show cause for Lambino, ordering the lawyer to explain the disinformation on Duterte’s TRO.
A lawyer’s involvement in the proliferation of “fake news” is prohibited under the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability or the code of conduct for lawyers. — Rappler.com
