Albayalde: Blogger will be charged for ‘bomb scare’ post
National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde announced on Monday that pro-Duterte blogger Drew Olivar will be charged after supposedly posting a bomb scare in his Facebook account.
A case for violating Presidential Decree 1727 or the Anti-Bomb Joke Law will be filed against Olivar, who earlier apologized for his actions in a press conference organized by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
"I think si Drew Olivar has already learned his lesson and he will be charged for violation of PD 1727 o yung Anti-Bomb Joke [Law]," Albayalde said.
In a text message to the Manila Bulletin, NCRPO Director General Guillermo Eleazar confirmed that Olivar will be charged but did not say when: "Yes, we will."
Presidential Decree (PD) 1727 or the Anti-Bomb Joke law declares as unlawful the malicious dissemination of false information or the willful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives or any similar device or means of destruction, and imposes the penalties for it.
If proven guilty, an offender may be jailed up to five years and/or a penalty of up to 140,000 may be imposed by the court.
Olivar, accompanied by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, submitted himself to Eleazar last Saturday for an investigation.
The issue stemmed from Olivar's post last Thursday, September 20, which said: "Ayyy nakakatakot naman magRALLY sa EDSA, kasi may kumakalat na baka maulit daw 'yung pagbomba kagaya ng PLAZA MIRANDA!! [K]ung ako sa inyo hindi na ako pupunta." (Participating in a rally in EDSA is frightening because there are reports of a bomb attack just like what happened in Plaza Miranda!! If I were you, I won't go there!!)
The post was made a day before the 46th commemoration of the martial law declaration on Friday, September 21, where a united people's march was organized by various protest groups.
Olivar claimed he made his post "in good faith" because he wanted to give a warning to those who would participate that there was an unverified bomb threat.
However, Eleazar said Olivar should have directed his concern to authorities for the validation of the reported bomb threat.
As for Albayalde's part, he said he will wait for the report of Eleazar which he expects will be submitted to his office. He also denied Olivar was given special treatment when the NCRPO organized a press conference for Olivar.
"Hindi lang siya maaresto during that time kasi nangyari na 'yun matagal na but he will be charged formally for violation of PD 1727 ([Olivar] was not arrested during the [press conference] because the post was made before that but he will be charged formally for violation of PD 1727)," Albayalde said.
Olivar has yet to release a statement on the matter.