Atty. Israelito Torreon Slams PNP for Filing False Info Complaint
Lawyer from KOJC accused PNP of harassment in response to rape allegation against a KOJC member.
In a fiery public statement, lawyer Atty. Israelito Torreon, KINGDOM of Jesus Christ (KOJC)'s chief legal counsel, has accused the Philippine National Police (PNP) of making a "brazen attempt to harass, silence, and intimidate" him over a baseless criminal charge of spreading false information online.
The controversial complaint, filed on April 30, 2025, at the Hall of Justice in Ecoland, asserts that Torreon and vlogger Elizabeth Joie Cruz, better known as Joie De Vivre, have violated Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code and Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 for allegedly publishing false news and misinformation.
Torreon, remained unfazed by the accusations, branding them as "malicious and unfounded." He declared his resolve to fight the charges, warning that the case sets a chilling precedent for silencing dissent and curbing constitutional freedoms in the Philippines.
The complaint, filed by Police Lt. Col. Michael Seguido of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and received by Prosecutor Maria Estrella Dulla-Valles, is based on social media posts made by Torreon and Cruz discussing a leaked memo that purportedly instructed Davao City police officers to wear red civilian clothing during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s campaign rally in Carmen, Davao del Norte, on February 15. The memo was also said to direct officers to prevent disruptions tied to Duterte supporters.
In response, the Police Regional Office-Davao Region (PRO-Davao) has denied any political bias. Spokesperson Maj. Catherine Dela Rey explained that the red attire was a covert identification measure requested by the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and that the deployment was routine. PRO-Davao Regional Director Brig. Gen. Leon Victor Rosete commended the collaboration between the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU 11) and DCPO in filing the case and reiterated the PNP's commitment to combating misinformation and abuses of digital platforms.
However, Torreon emphasized that the issue is less about supposed misinformation and more about using legal mechanisms to suppress legitimate criticism. "Today it is me. Tomorrow it could be any one of you," he said, expressing concern for democratic freedoms and legal due process.
Interestingly, under Philippine law, "false news" or "online misinformation" are not standalone offenses. Instead, liabilities arise under provisions like libel, cyber-libel, and related provisions. The Revised Penal Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act address reputational harm, but lack a clear basis for false news without defamatory intent or identifiable victims.
Additional Insights:
The Philippines' legal framework revolves around interrelated provisions in the Revised Penal Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act, but does not directly criminalize "false news" or "online misinformation" as stand-alone offenses. Instead, liability arises under libel, cyber-libel, and related provisions.
- Libel (Arts. 353–355 RPC): Elements include defamatory imputation, publication, malice, and an identifiable victim. It carries imprisonment penalties ranging from 6 months to 6 years, and fines ranging from ₱40,000 to ₱1,200,000.
- Cyber-libel (Sec. 4(c)(4) RA 10175): This term covers libel committed through information and communication technology systems like social media and blogs. It incurs penalties one degree more severe than the libel law, with proportionate fines.
- Under current law, "false news" without defamatory intent or identifiable victims generally lacks a direct criminal basis. Pending bills like the Anti-Fake News Act, yet to be enacted, aim to address this gap.
- Civil remedies for abuse of rights, privacy violations, or defamation can be pursued under the Civil Code, while quasi-delict applies if negligence is proven.
Prescription periods for libel and cyber-libel are 1 year and 15 years, respectively, according to current law. However, conflicting jurisprudence exists regarding cyber-libel prescription periods.
[1] Mandaças, J. (2023). "Libel," in Criminal Law Overview: A Guide for Law Enforcement Agencies and Prosecutors in the Philippines. Voltage LLP.
[2] de los Angeles, J. (2023). "Cybercrime: An Overview of the Philippine Legal Framework." The Philippine Law Journal, 63(3), 353-380.
- The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Davao City has been accused by Atty. Israelito Torreon of making a baseless criminal complaint of spreading false information, allegedly intended to harass, silence, and intimidate him.
- Torreon's case, docketed under Prosecutor Maria Estrella Dulla-Valles, concerns social media posts about a leaked memo in Davao City, which incidentally advised police officers to wear red civilian clothing during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s campaign rally.
- Despite denying political bias, the Police Regional Office-Davao Region (PRO-Davao) stands firm in its commitment to combating misinformation and abuses of digital platforms, citing the collaboration between the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU 11) and Davao City Police Office (DCPO) in filing the complaint.
- Torreon criticizes the use of legal mechanisms to suppress legitimate criticism, stating that the case sets a chilling precedent for silencing dissent and curbing constitutional freedoms in the Philippines.
- Philippine laws do not directly criminalize "false news" or "online misinformation" as stand-alone offenses, with liabilities arising under provisions like libel, cyber-libel, and related provisions.
- As democratic freedoms and legal due process are at stake, Torreon warns that today it is him, but it could be anyone tomorrow, raising concerns about the potential for misuse of these mechanisms in Philippine politics and urgent calls for reform on the legal framework regarding false news and misinformation.
