Broadcaster nabbed for cyberlibel
A CEBU City broadcaster accused of spreading malicious and false accusations against a local business company in his online radio program was arrested by agents of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group on Friday, PNP-ACG director, Brigadier General Joel B. Doria said.
Arnold Bustamante was arrested in his residence in Sitio Fatima, Barangay Apas in Cebu City shortly before noon Friday by members of the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 7 under Colonel Ferdinand S. Raymunco, the official said.
According to Brig. Gen. Doria, the arrest was made on the strength of a warrant issued by Judge Ramon Daomilas Jr. of the Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 11. A P10,000 bail was recommended for the temporary liberty of the accused.
Records show the broadcaster was accused by the business company as having portrayed their products as ‘fake and harmful to the public’ on his radio program, thus damaging their reputation.
“The accused allegedly bad-mouthed and defamed the business corporation by faulting their product as fake and harmful to the public on his radio program prompting the company to file a cyber-libel case against him,” said Doria.
On Friday, the RACU 7 operatives served the warrant of arrest for violation of Section 4 (c) of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. He was taken to the RACU 7 office for documentation.
“I would like to remind the public to be thoughtful and prudent in their social media activities and avoid posting defamatory or libelous remarks on various social media platforms,” Brig. Gen. Doria said in the wake of the arrest of the broadcaster.
