FALSE: Prosecution ‘star witness’ Calilung to face several criminal charges

Sebastian Janapin

A Facebook post from The Bizarre Bulletin claimed that National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent John Mark Calilung, one of Vice President Sara Duterte’s witnesses against her alleged grave threats from her impeachment case, is facing several criminal charges.

THE CLAIM

The post shows Atty. Vic Rodriguez pointing the NBI agent, through a YouTube episode, violating eight (8) articles of the Revised Penal Code, which are as follows: arbitrary detention (Article 124); delaying release (Article 126), maliciously obtaining search warrant (Article 129); searching domicile without witness (Article 130); falsification by public officer (Article 171); false testimony (perjury) (Article 183); robbery with violence or intimidation (Article 294, Paragraph 5); and theft (Article 308).

RATING: FALSE

THE CONCLUSION

Calilung’s alleged criminal charges are definitely false. There are no formal or official statement, resolution, or warrant released against Calilung and his alleged criminal charges, based on the list given from the post.

THE FACTS

• The Bizarre Bulletin is dubbed as a Facebook page “offering satirical opinions and sarcastic commentary.”
• Meta has also flagged the page as a peddler of false information, with independent fact-checkers stating that the information released in the post is false.
• The post has reached the ‘TEAM SARA DUTERTE’ Facebook page and already gained several reactions and comments from Duterte supporters, questioning Calilung’s position as a witness of VP Duterte’s impeachment trial.
• The existence of Atty. Rodriguez’s YouTube episode is also likely fabricated by the page, as there are no released videos on YouTube of the given content.
• Calilung has currently no pending or upcoming criminal charges listed, with the post likely targeted to misinform the audiences and attack the agent’s reputation, credibility, and stand as a witness.

THE BOTTOMLINE

The NBI agent is not facing any criminal charges. Calilung’s testimony as a cybercrime agent will be a ‘booster’ for the prosecution to prove Article IV of VP Duterte’s impeachment case—the allegation of threats to the lives of the President, First Lady, and former House Speaker. The post is likely targeted to make audiences question Calilung’s credibility as a witness and reputation as an NBI agent.