A 25-year-old public high school teacher will not easily get off the hook despite his apology for posting on social media a P50-million offer for the killing of President Duterte.
“However, apology is not one of the grounds for extinguishing criminal liability,” said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday, referring to the apology made by the teacher identified as Ronnel Mas.
“I cannot feloniously injure another and get away with it by merely saying ‘sorry’,” the secretary explained.
Meanwhile, NBI Officer-In-Charge Director Eric Distor has assured that the bureau will carry out its mandate under Republic Act 10867, the NBI Reorganization and Modernization Act, in cases involving threats against the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Distor said Mas was presented for inquest on Tuesday afternoon before the Department of Justice (DoJ) in Manila for inciting to sedition in relation to Republic Act 10175, the Cyber Crime Prevention Act of 2012 and for violating RA 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials.
The teacher was arrested at his home in Barangay North Poblacion in Sta. Cruz, Zambales last Monday by agents of the NBI Dagupan District Office (NBI-DADO).
The arrest was made after Mas posted on his Twitter account the statement: “I will give P50 Million reward kung sino makakapatay kay Duterte.”
Following the posting, the NBI immediately tracked the whereabouts of the teacher.
The teacher has already apologized for his social media post.
“Nagso-sorry po ako kay President Rodrigo Duterte. Hindi ko po intensyon ‘yun. ‘Yung tweet na ‘yun kumbaga saloobin ko lang kaso walang pumapansin, kaya nagawa ko ‘yun,” the teacher said in a video posted by the arresting NBI agents.
Mas, who teaches social studies at the Taltal National High School, will remain in the custody at the NBI headquarters in Manila. (Jeffrey Damicog)