Sara to supporters: Don't allow others to be 'kidnapped'

Who is bankrolling the spread of fake news on social media?

- MARK ERNEST VILLEZA

This is a question the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seeks to answer soon, as it works to unmask the mastermind behind the extensive disinformation campaign.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago yesterday said the agency is investigating whether individuals or groups are funding vloggers to disseminate false information online.

The probe comes after the arrest of a fake news vlogger in Cebu, who denied working under anyone's orders or receiving payment to spread false information.

As part of its ongoing efforts, the NBI is closely monitoring at least 20 vloggers suspected of spreading fake news and is gathering evidence to file cases against them.

"They are already listed, and we have identified them," Santiago said.

"I have instructed our technical intelligence and cybercrime divisions to take decisive action. We want these individuals to know that we are serious about this," he added.

Santiago said that the NBI is keeping a close watch on both little-known and high-profile individuals involved in spreading false information.

"We are preserving all their government know what they did was wrong. What they did to a former president and a Filipino citizen was wrong and then we demand that there be some sort of accountability in our country for what happened so that it doesn’t happen again,” she added.