A clip of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago talking about filing cases and arresting Filipinos abroad is circulating online without proper context.
On April 7, a TikTok user uploaded a 14-second clip of the director supposedly announcing during a press forum that they will file cases and arrest overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Santiago said:
‘”Yung mga nandito sa Pilipinas, arestuhin namin. ‘Yung mga nasa abroad, we will file case, hindi na sila makakauwi dito. Hindi sila makakadalaw sa pamilya nila. Pagdating pa lang sa NAIA, aarestuhin na namin sila (Those who are here in the Philippines, we will arrest them. Those who are abroad, we will file cases, they will not be able to come home here. They will not be able to visit their families. As soon as they arrive at NAIA, we will arrest them).”
The TikTok video also carried the text:
“PANANAKOT ANG BAGONG ADMINISTRATION NGAYON. OFW ANG MGA BAGONG BAYANI BAKIT NYO TINATAKOT? Bakit sayo o ba ang PILIPINAS? Bakit kayo ganyan sa mga nakakatulong sa ekonomiya ng bansa
(The new administration is threatening. OFWs are the new heroes. Why are you threatening them? Why? Is the Philippines yours? Why are you like that to those who contribute to the country’s economy?”)
This needs context. The statement was a warning against Filipinos who are spreading false information and not about arresting OFWs without a reason.
The 14-second clip was taken from a March 14 Sonshine Media Network International report on the NBI’s plans against individuals who allegedly spread false information.
In the March 14 press forum, Santiago specifically mentioned filing a case against the vlogger Maharlika who is currently living abroad. Santiago said they will ask the help of Interpol to arrest such individuals who post false narratives online while living abroad to make them accountable for their actions.
On April 15, the NBI’s Cybercrime Division filed charges against Maharlika and former presidential spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque for spreading the “polvoron video” that purportedly shows president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. snorting cocaine.
Several netizens have misinterpreted the clip that lacks context as NBI arresting OFWs critical of the Marcos administration or with no reason at all. Some OFWs also posted videos reacting to and criticizing Santiago’s statement.
The video circulated the same day the Malacanang Palace announced that Qatar had dropped the cases against the 17 OFWs who were arrested for illegally holding a public demonstration in support of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
VERA Files has debunked other mis-/disinformation related to OFWs and Duterte’s case in the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity in relation to his administration’s bloody drug war.
The video without proper context posted by TikTok user @wild.flower269 garnered 14,400 reactions, 13,600 comments, 10,000 shares and 878,700 views. At least four FB accounts reposted copies of the clip with missing context collectively garnering 34,004 reactions, 37,250 comments, 35,676 shares and 6,274,000 views.
