Resident of Mandaue faced charges for alleged terrorism activities
A 30-year-old man, identified as Gian Carlo Dela Cruz Maningo, stands accused of terrorism for making threatening posts on Facebook offering rewards for the assassination of high-ranking government officials and the bombing of Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices.
On May 14, 2025, authorities from the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7) arrested Maningo at his residence in Barangay Casili, Mandaue City, two days after he was traced.
A two-page court report sent to Cebu on May 28, 2025, revealed that Maningo was charged with violating Section 4 of Republic Act (RA) 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, in relation to RA 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act. The charge sheet alleges that Maningo published a Facebook post offering a PHP 10 million reward for the killing of identified individuals, including Comelec Commissioner George Erwin Garcia, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Cebu City Mayor Raymond Garcia, and a woman named Christine Garcia. The post also offered PHP 5 million as a reward for bombing all Comelec sites.
The posts, featuring photographs of the named officials, were intended to instill fear, intimidate government officials, and potentially disrupt the electoral process. The post generated more than 100 shares and comments.
In a statement, the Mandaue City Prosecutor's Office reported that Maningo was informed of the evidence against him and waived his right to preliminary investigation. Prosecutors then found substantial evidence to press charges. They have recommended that he be held without bail.
As Maningo's alleged acts were committed using information and communication technology, prosecutors plan to invoke the cybercrime law in relation to the terrorism offense. The accused is currently in detention at the National Bureau of Investigation Central Visayas office and is expected to be transferred to the Mandaue City Jail.
It is essential to note that such online threats, particularly those involving terrorism and election-related violence, are taken seriously by the Department of Justice. The swift filing of charges following Maningo's arrest underscores this commitment to ensuring the safety of government officials and the integrity of the electoral process.
- The crime of terrorism charges against Gian Carlo Dela Cruz Maningo in Cebu, Philippines, is connected to politics and general news, as he stands accused of making threatening posts on Facebook offering rewards for the assassination of high-ranking government officials and bombing Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices, which are election-related institutions.
- The government authorities from the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7) have invoked both the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and the Cybercrime Prevention Act in relation to Maningo's case, highlighting the intersection of crime, politics, and crime-and-justice in this incident.
- The swift action taken by the Mandaue City Prosecutor's Office in filing charges against Maningo, and the recommendation for him to be held without bail, demonstrates the government's commitment to ensuring the safety of government officials and the integrity of the electoral process in the face of online threats, especially those involving terrorism and election-related violence.
