Latest news with #RevisedPenalCode
GMA Network
17-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Isabela vice mayor-elect surrenders to court amid arrest warrant for cybercrime complaint
Isabela Vice Mayor-elect Jeryll Harold Respicio voluntarily surrendered at a Manila Court on Tuesday in relation to the cybercrime charges filed against him by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Respicio arrived at the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 34 after learning of a signed arrest warrant against him for allegedly violating Article 134 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC). 'Meron na pong pirmadong warrant ang Court sa Branch 34, kaya ako nag-voluntary surrender,' Respicio told reporters. (We learned there is a signed warrant of arrest here in Branch 34, so we voluntarily surrendered.) 'Ito po ay isang process para hindi ka na hulihin at hindi ka na i-commit sa loob ng jail, pwede ka mag-voluntary surrender at magbayad ng bail,' he said. (This is a process where they will no longer arrest us and commit us to jail.) Comelec, through Task Force Katotohanan, Katapatan at Katarungan (KKK) sa Halalan, filed cybercrime charges against Respicio in February over his social media videos allegedly saying he can manipulate the automated counting machines (ACMs) for Eleksyon 2025. The lawyer likewise claimed there were backdoor programs for the manipulation of the ACMs and supposedly demonstrated how to exploit the election results in one of his videos. 'Magpo-post kami ng bail today. Dalawa po, P32,000 kada isang kaso. Dalawang video kasi yun,' the Respicio said. (We will post bail today. That would be P32,000 for each of the counts of the case.) Respicio maintained that his social media videos were not 'untrue,' as he claimed the poll body 'adhered' to his appeal to include a provision in its elections resolution prohibiting the ACMs from being connected to the internet before and during the printing of the election returns. 'Asahan nyo po mga kababayan na lalaban tayo hanggang sa huli. Hanggang sa ang katotohanan ay lumabas at magpapatuloy si Atty. Harold Respicio na ilabas ang lahat... Hanggang mailabas natin ang lahat ng pagkukulang ng Comelec sa nangyaring elections nitong 2025 para sa susunod na election sa 2028, hindi na ito uli mangyayari,' he added. (I will fight until the end, until the truth comes out and we unearth all the shortcomings of the Comelec this election and prevent a repeat of them in the 2028 polls.) Comelec Comelec Chair George Garcia previously slammed Respicio's claims, saying the respondent might have a 'misunderstanding or non-understanding' of the process of transmitting of election returns. 'Mukhang ang kaniyang understanding, magta-transmit agad ang bawat makina tapos after ng transmission, 'tsaka magp-print ng election returns. Baliktad po. Election returns muna bago ang transmission,' said Garcia. (He might have a misunderstanding of the process. The election returns will be printed before its transmission.) 'Ibig sabihin, bago mag-transmit alam na ng lahat ang boto sa bawat presinto. Paano mo siya maha-hack? Paano mo mababago? Paano mo mapapakialamanan ang results kung ganitong alam na ng lahat…kung ano ang results?' he added. (This means that the results will be issued before the transmission. How will he hack or change that when everyone knows the votes?) —VAL, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
GMA Network
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Pura Luka Vega acquitted by Manila RTC
Pura Luka Vega, also known as Amadeus Fernando Pagente, has been acquitted by the Manila Regional Trial Court. In a 20-page decision dated June 10, the Manila RTC Branch 184 acquitted the artist of charges of violating Article 201 (2)(b)(3) and (2)(b)(5) of the Revised Penal Code in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (RA 10175). Article 201 penalizes "immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows." Judge Czarina Samonte-Villanueva penned the decision. 'Wherefore, premises considered, for failure of the prosecution to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt, Amadeus Fernando Pagente, also known as Pura Luka Vega, is hereby acquitted for violation Article 201 (2)(b)(3) and (2)(b)(5) of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Republic Act 10175," the ruling read. On X (formerly Twitter), Pura Luka Vega also shared this part of the ruling and said 'Thank you for this wonderful news." "One more case left. Laban lang,' the drag artist added. Thank you for this wonderful news. ???? One more case left. Laban lang. ???????? — Pura Luka Vega ???? (@puralukavega) June 10, 2025 In its ruling, the Manila court said, 'Though the prosecution fell short of the required quantum of proof in the prosecution of the criminal case, the Court takes this opportunity to remind Pura Luka to be circumspect in his choice of medium or subject of his performances as a drag artist taking into account the society he belongs to. It is basic in the concept of social coexistence." 'This is not to curtail his freedom or rights nor to regulate his acts to belong to a presumed majority but more to be compassionate on the community as a whole, especially with the accessibility of social media which makes it easy to record, upload and circulate materials which are readily available for consumption of the public," it added. The court also ordered the release of the bond amounting to P72,000 that Pura Luka Vega posted for their provisional liberty. In August 2023, the Hijos Del Nazareno, devotees of the Black Nazarene, filed a complaint against Pura Luka Vega over their viral "Ama Namin" drag performance, while dressed in Jesus Christ's likeness back in July 2023. In their complaint, the group said the artist's "acts and actuations constitute a direct attack on our Lord, our God and savior, Jesus Christ." In an exclusive interview with GMA News Online in July 2023, the artist said that their "intent was to embody a version of Christ that is one with the queer audience."In August 2023, In October of that year, Luka was arrested after complaints were filed against them due to the same viral performance. They were also declared persona non grata in various cities like Manila, Cebu City, General Santos City, Laguna, and many more. Their fellow drag artists mounted a fundraising show to help with the bail and raised P892,975.60 in donations. Luka was released on bail after three days in jail. In December 2023, Luka celebrated the dismissal of "at least one" case filed against them.—Nika Roque/CDC/VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
09-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Torre: Lethal force should be last resort during arrest
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Nicolas Torre III said Monday that lethal force should be the last resort in arresting a criminal. Torre made the statement in his speech during his courtesy visit to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Quezon City. 'Huwag kayong mag-alala yung [sa] sinasabi nating paramihan ng huli. I really don't believe na yan ay maaabuso. Napakalas naman ng loob ng pulis na para lang makahuli ay gagawa ho ng huli. Tapos na ho yun,' Torre said. (Don't worry about what we're saying about increasing the number of arrests. I really don't believe that will be abused. The police are not that desperate to fabricate an arrest. That is a thing of the past.) 'At dito, ang palagi kong ini-emphasize lethal force will only be used as a last resort. Buhay ang tao. Kaya kapag nag-reklamo sa CHR. Yan magkikita-kita tayo,' he added. (And here's what I always emphasize: lethal force will only be used as a last resort. The person is alive. So when you complain to the CHR. We will meet each other there.) Torre cited Article 11 of the Revised Penal Code that covers justifying circumstances and circumstances that exempt from criminal liability. 'Sa aresto, you will take somebody in custody. There is always a possibility that they will fight. So when they fight, papasok ngayon yung Article 11, justifying circumstances, self-defense,' Torre said in an ambush interview. 'Dedepensa ang pulis kung sa kanilang paningin ay endangered sila,' he added. (The police will defend themselves if they are endangered.) The PNP chief was responding to the concerns earlier raised by the CHR regarding his statement that the number of arrests will be a factor in the assessment of police officers. Torre said he will require police officers who conducted warrantless arrest to submit affidavits of arrest, which will be the basis for their promotions. 'Iisa ang proseso sa arrest without warrant. Dadalhin natin sa one document na kailangan para sa inquest which is defined as a summary proceedings conducted by a prosecutor to determine whether a person arrested without a warrant should remain in custody,' he said. (The process for arrest without a warrant is the same. We will take someone to inquest is the number one document needed for an inquest which is defined as a summary proceedings conducted by a prosecutor to determine whether a person arrested without a warrant should remain in custody.) 'Kaya karamihan ng affidavit of arrest ang aking batayan dahil yan ang pinakanakakatakot na trabaho ng pulis,' he added. (So mostly, affidavits of arrest are my basis because that is the most feared job of the police.) According to Torre, if police officers committed a violation or gave a wrong testimony, they will face punishment such as dismissal from the service and suspension from their posts. First courtesy visit by a PNP chief CHR chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc said Torre is the first PNP chief to pay a courtesy visit to the Commission. 'Buong puso naming binabati si Police General Nicolas Torre III sa kanyang panunungkulan bilang bagong chief ng PNP. Welcome po sa CHR. Makasaysayan yung pagdalaw niyo rito. Kauna-unahan ho yatang dumalaw ang Chief PNP sa Komisyon,' he said. (We wholeheartedly congratulate Police General Nicolas Torre III on his post as the new chief of the PNP. Welcome to the CHR. Your visit here is historic. It is the first time that the Chief PNP has visited the Commission.) Palpal-latoc said Torre's visit will improve the coordination between the CHR and PNP. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
04-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
2 Customs brokers nabbed for alleged extortion
Authorities arrested two Customs brokers in Ermita, Manila for allegedly engaging in extortion targeting a local freight forwarder. In a statement on Wednesday, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said the suspects allegedly attempted to extort the victim by demanding an additional P1.9 million 'greasy money' for various offices that would issue the company's shipment from being on hold. The suspects were arrested Wednesday, a day after the freight forwarder company filed a complaint. 'It was to my understanding that the complainant was given only until June 3 to produce an additional P1.9 million on top of the P500,000 that was already previously paid for Otsuka's shipment. Even though the complaint was only filed on June 2, we needed to act fast in just a day to conduct the entrapment operation because there was a so-called deadline from the suspects,' BOC Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Director Verne Enciso said. According to the BOC, the company already paid one of the suspects P500,000 for an 'all-inclusive engagement fee' that includes the broker's fee and customs duties and taxes. 'But upon arrival of the shipment, this certain Wyeth allegedly told the complainant that the shipment was on hold and would be subjected to a Warrant of Seizure and Detention unless the complainant, this Otsuka, pays an additional P1.9 million,' Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy said. One of the suspects also said the shipment would be subject to a warrant of seizure and detention if the company failed to pay the additional fee by June 3. The suspects will face charges of robbery with violence or intimidation of persons by way of extortion under the Revised Penal Code. They were brought to the National Bureau of Investigation for booking procedures and will undergo inquest proceedings. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Darryl Yap pleaded not guilty in Vic Sotto's cyberlibel case — lawyer
Director Darryl Yap on Tuesday pleaded not guilty in the cyberlibel case filed against him by actor-host Vic Sotto, his lawyer confirmed. The arraignment was at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 203. Atty. Raymond Furtun, Yap's legal counsel, said that the next hearing will take place on August 19, Tuesday. Yap was charged for libel under Article 353 and 355 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended in relation to violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 The case stemmed from the teaser of the Yap's upcoming film, 'The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma,' released last January 1, wherein the character of Gina Alajar (who is portraying Charito Solis) asked the lead actress portraying Pepsi Paloma if she was raped by actor-host Vic Sotto. The lead character replied, 'yes.' Sotto's camp has denied the allegations against him. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
