Police slaps blogger Drew Olivar with criminal raps over bomb scare post

FILE: Pro-Duterte Blogger Andrew “Drew” Olivar (Photo: Andrew Olivar/Facebook)

A criminal complaint was filed at the Department of Justice (DOJ) against blogger Andrew “Drew” Olivar after he made a bomb scare post on social media last September 20.

The Philippine National Police-National Capital Region Police Office (PNP-NCRPO) filed the complaint on Thursday, September 27, against Olivar for violating Section 1 of Presidential Decree 1727 which prohibits the malicious dissemination of false information or the willful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives, in relation to Republic Act (RA) No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Violators of the decree will be punished with imprisonment of not more than five years or a fine of not more than P40,000.

It was on the day before the commemoration of the 46th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in the country, when Olivar posted on Facebook, “Ayyy nakakatakot naman magRALLY sa EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue), kasi may kumakalat na baka maulit daw ‘yung pagbomba kagaya ng PLAZA MIRANDA!! Kung ako sa inyo hindi na ako pupunta (Oh, it is really scary to join the rally in EDSA because word is spreading that the bombing in Plaza Miranda might happen again! If I were you, I will not go there)!!”

The cops went back to the DOJ a few days after it advised them to provide additional evidence in its complaint, particularly the internet protocol (IP) address that Olivar used for posting the message.

Among the evidence submitted by the NCRPO are printed copies of Olivar’s now-deleted post, a news article, and certification from the PNP-Anti Cybercrime Group.

Olivar, who was once again in the hot waters for his bomb scare post, has earlier issued his apology for his actions.

“Ito, magsosorry lang ako kung may mga naalarma diyan na iba pagkakaintindi sa sinabi ko. Doon ako magsosorry (I will say sorry to those who were alarmed and who misunderstood what I have said. I will say sorry to them). So, sorry po,” he said.

The blogger previously drew the ire of many along with Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson over their ‘ipederalismo’ jingle and their video where they made fun of sign language.