ILOILO City – Policemen arrested a construction worker in Sitio Hagdan, Barangay Yapak, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan for posting on Facebook his offer of a P100 -million reward to whoever could kill President Rodrigo Duterte.
The 40-year-old Ronald Quiboyen, now detained at the Malay police station, faces a charge of violation of Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).
Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region 6, Malay police station and the Regional Anti-Cyber Crime Office arrested Quiboyen around 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
The suspect posted on Facebook, “’Yung P50 million n’yo doblehin ko, gawin kong P100 million kung sino makapatay kay Duterte. Andito ako ngayon sa Boracay.”
Quiboyen was actually reacting to a post by a Dagupan City, Pangasinan teacher offering P50 million to whoever could kill the President.
According to CIDG-6 director Police Lieutenant Colonel Gervacio Balmaceda, his men moved to arrest Quiboyen after “our director in the CIDG, General (Joel Napoleon) Coronel, directed me to check and go for a manhunt operation.”
He described Quiboyen’s Facebook post as “seditious” and a “threat to national security.”
The suspect was angered by the President’s quarantine order due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, added Balmaceda.
Quiboyen was displaced from his previous job (construction) due to the quarantine and became a motorcycle driver.
“He hates the President because of the lockdown. It has become hard for him to live,” said Balmaceda.
While the Philippines is a democratic country, according to Balmaceda, freedom of expression has limitations.
“We should be mindful of what we say and do even if angry,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation arrested the Dagupan City teacher, Ronnel Mas in Barangay Poblacion North, Sta. Cruz, Zambales.
He was brought to the NBI’s Manila office and charged with inciting to sedition and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees./PN
