Pasay city: The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has lodged a cybercrime complaint against lawyer Jeryll Harold Respicio over his alleged inflammatory social media posts, which are said to incite sedition or rebellion.

According to Philippines News Agency, CICC Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso announced the filing of the complaint during a press conference at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Pasay City office. The complaint was filed for violations under the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Republic Act 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Paraiso emphasized the gravity of the charges, stating that the case represents a crime against public order committed online. He highlighted the importance of responsible social media use, particularly among professionals and public officials, and stressed that such acts would not be tolerated.

The CICC presented evidence comprising screen recordings of Respicio's posts on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. These posts allegedly encouraged the public to initiate a revolution against the government. One notable piece of content is a video uploaded on May 19 on Respicio's Facebook page, which has a following of around 1.1 million people. In the video, Respicio questioned his audience's willingness to start a revolution and included text suggesting that revolution is the solution to a dysfunctional constitution.

If found guilty, Respicio could face a penalty of imprisonment for six years or more. Paraiso also mentioned the possibility of takedown measures for Respicio's content through the CICC's collaboration with Meta, due to the alleged crimes against public order.

In a warning to the public, Paraiso advised caution in posting and sharing malicious and illegal content on social media platforms. The cybercrime complaint was personally delivered by Paraiso to NBI Director Melvin Matibag, with Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Precious Hipolito-Castelo as a witness.