By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) has arrested a 40-year-old man in Batangas for threatening to bomb the PNP-ACG headquarters.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, ACG chief Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang said the suspect, “Harvey,” was arrested last Sept. 10 through a warrant issued by the Batangas City Regional Trial Court.
The ACG received the bomb threat last March 4 through an online messaging app.
Yang said the ACG tracked down the suspect but he allegedly used at least three different social media accounts to evade arrest.
“Siguro, sinubukan niya lang kung talagang kaya ni Anti-Cybercrime Group na ma-locate siya, ma-identify siya. Doon sa pagtatanong natin, mayroon (siyang) nakakaaway. Mayroong mga hinahabol na may kutsilyo siya (Perhaps, he just wanted to see whether the Anti-Cybercrime Group could locate him, identify him. When we asked around, it appeared that he got into fights. He chased after people with a knife),” said Yang.
Sept. 21 protests
Meanwhile, Yang said the PNP-ACG continues to monitor online posts related to the Sept. 21 anti-corruption protests.
He said there is no problem with posts that encourage people to join the rally, but it is a different matter if it borders on violating the law.
“Basta nagbo-borderline na tayo doon sa paglabag ng batas, doon tayo nagsasagawa ng investigation at ma-identify itong mga nagpopost na to (Once we cross the borderline into breaking the law, we will conduct an investigation and identify those posting),” Yang told reporters.
“Patuloy naman tayo na nagsasagawa ng pakiusap sa ating mga kababayan na yung legal lang ang dapat gawin natin dito online (We urged the public to only do what is legal online),” he added.
For his part, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin said NCRPO personnel are ready to implement peace and order measures if protesters turn violent during the rallies.
“We are very ready po. Kahit anong grupo pa sumali (No matter what group will join) the NCRPO is on top of the situation,” he told reporters in a text message.
Aberin also said aside from the deployment of Civil Disturbance Management Units, the NCRPO has also prepared a comprehensive security plan for the rallies.
Earlier, PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., ordered deploying over 50,000 personnel nationwide to secure the protest rallies.
In Metro Manila, nearly 2,200 civil disturbance management teams have been deployed by the NCRPO as well as 300 ready standby support force and 42 drone operators.
Aberin also urged Filipinos to be careful and cautious in participating in such events as the freedom of expression is not absolute.
The NCRPO, however, assured the protesters that maximum tolerance will be observed. (PNA)
