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By Joel R. San Juan / @ jrsanjuan1573
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested a 25-year-old teacher for posting on his social media account an offer of a P50 million reward to anyone who could kill President Duterte.
The officer in charge of the NBI, Eric Distor, identified the teacher as Ronnel Mas, who was arrested in Barangay Poblacion, Barangay Sta. Cruz, Zambales, by agents of the NBI Dagupan District Office on May 12.
Mas, who is now pursuing a doctorate, is teaching Social Studies at Taltal National High School.
Mas faces investigation processes for inciting sedition related to cybercrime and violation of Law 6713 of the Republic, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for public officials and employees.
On his Twitter account, Mas posted: “I will give a reward of P50 million kung but makakapatay kay Duterte.
The post had already been removed, albeit too late, as it had gone viral.
NBI agents were able to locate Mas’s whereabouts by tracing the comment links in his post.
A video of Mas at NBI headquarters showed him pleading for the president to forgive him, saying he didn’t actually mean what he said in his post.
He added that he was only trying to get attention by expressing his personal sentiment in his tweet, although he acknowledged that “it was a wrong move.”
Mas’s parents also tearfully plead for their son to be forgiven, saying the latter showed remorse for his mistake.
The NBI has been directed to go after groups and individuals who deliberately spread false information about the Covid-19 pandemic on various social media platforms.
Distor warned that the NBI is serious about fulfilling its mandate to pursue cases involving security threats or assaults against the President, as well as the Vice President, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Supreme Court of Justice. the Supreme Court in accordance with its mandate under Section 5 of Law 10867 of the Republic.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Mas’s apology “is not one of the reasons for extinguishing criminal responsibility.”
“I cannot seriously injure another and get away with just asking for forgiveness,” said Guevarra.
