Isabela Vice Mayor Atty. Jeryll Harold Respicio said he is not afraid of being arrested over criminal complaints filed against him over his social media posts, saying he would simply post bail if a court issues a warrant.
Respicio said the criminal complaint filed against him by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) is politically motivated and that he expects the case to eventually reach the courts.
“Nakausap ko si Mr. Aboy Paraiso personally. Hindi ito formal communication. Sabi niya nasa DOJ na daw ang case at ang inciting to sedition,” Respicio said during an interview on Bilyonaryo News Channel’s At The Forefront with Atty. Karen Jimeno.
Respicio said he has yet to receive the subpoena issued by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) because agents have been trying to personally serve it on him.
He said the subpoena was initially sent to his former office in Bonifacio Global City, where he no longer works, and was later brought to the municipal government office in Isabela.
“Sinerve nila sa munisipyo sa probinsya, iniwasan ko. Nagtago po ako kaya nga hindi nila naserve,” he said.
Asked why he was avoiding service of the subpoena, Respicio replied: “Ayoko nga!”
He said he believes the complaint is politically motivated and that he expects the NBI to rule against him.
“Dahil ang tingin ko politically motivated po yon at alam ko naman matatalo din ako sa NBI,” Respicio said.
With the case reportedly now before the Department of Justice, Respicio said he expects it to proceed to court.
“Kaya nung sinabi niya sa akin na nasa DOJ na, eh expected ko na po yon. At expected ko din na umakyat sa korte,” he said.
He then challenged authorities to arrest him.
“Kaya oh sige, i-warrant na ninyo ako. Magba-bailout na lang ako, sanay na ako diyan,” Respicio said.
Respicio said the complaint was not the first case filed against him over his criticisms of the government.
“Hindi po ito ang unang kinaso sa akin dahil sa criticisms ko sa government,” he said.
“Paulit-ulit na lang ang kaso laban sa akin, ang dami-dami ko kaso. Kine-criticize ko ang national government, may kaso pa din sa akin,” he added.
He also said he has become more cautious about criticizing Vice President Sara Duterte, saying in jest that he might face another case if he does so.
“Kaya nga ngayon, ayaw ko na i-criticize si VP Sara baka kasuhan ninyo din ako,” Respicio said.
The CICC earlier filed criminal and administrative complaints against Respicio before the NBI over his alleged “seditious statements” on social media.
The complaints, filed by CICC Executive Director Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso and Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Precious Hipolito-Castelo, included alleged inciting to sedition, inciting to rebellion and unlawful publication.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the bureau would issue a subpoena to give Respicio an opportunity to answer the allegations as the investigation proceeds.
Paraiso said the complaint was not intended to curtail freedom of speech but to determine whether Respicio’s social media statements had crossed the line into sedition.#