Janus Munar, a teacher who shared a video of a controversial traffic incident purportedly involving Vice President Sara Duterte’s convoy along Commonwealth Avenue, has filed a counter-affidavit before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office, seeking to dismiss criminal charges against him.
Munar strongly refutes the child abuse claim, labeling it as “unfounded.”
Accompanied by his lawyer, Chel Diokno, Munar challenges the charges filed by Executive M/Sgt. Verdo Pantollano, who accused him of violating Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, penalizing the publication of “false news endangering public order or causing damage to the interest or credit of the state,” along with child abuse in relation to the cybercrime prevention law.
In his counter-affidavit, Munar questions the legitimacy of the charges, stating, “The complaint-affidavit does not establish that any crimes were committed and that I did anything unlawful.”
Diokno challenges the clarity of the charges, asserting that if it’s related to sharing false news, Pantollano himself identified the VIP, rendering the video truthful.
He dismisses the child abuse claim, deeming it “unfounded,” as Munar merely shared a video of a public official performing public functions in a public place.
Regarding the child abuse charge, Diokno expresses confusion, stating, “Hindi namin ma-gets kung bakit may charge na ganun” (We can’t understand why there is such a charge).
When asked what’s in the complaint, Diokno added: “Well, ang nakalagay sa complaint, sabi ni complainant Pantollano na nakita daw ng anak niya na minor yong video at na-trauma daw siya. Pero sa tingin namin ay talagang unfounded yong charge na yun dahil ang ginawa lang naman ng kliyente ko ay tulad ng ginagawa ng milyon na Filipino na na shi-nare niya yong video ng pisang public official, performing public function, sa isang public place.”
Munar also points out a discrepancy in the complaint-affidavit: Pantollano claimed the traffic incident happened on Oct 10 but attached screenshots of Munar’s Facebook post dated Oct 4.
In response to the child abuse charge, Diokno questions its basis, emphasizing that Munar shared a video of a public official in a public place, which shouldn’t warrant such an accusation.
Munar argues, “It is a blatant attempt to go after me for doing what millions of Filipinos do all the time on the internet – share photos and videos of public events, including those public officers performing their official duties – in ways that may adversely affect ordinary citizens.”
The controversial traffic incident occurred when motorists were at a standstill due to the closure of a portion of Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. Pantollano claimed in the video that traffic had been stopped for the convoy of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Duterte’s camp attributes the incident to the “confusion and lapse in judgment” of Pantollano. The Office of the Vice President clarified that Duterte was in Mindanao for the observance of World Teachers’ Day when the incident took place.
Pantollano was reinstated after being relieved from his post. The Quezon City Police District mentioned that Pantollano “misheard” that it was Duterte’s convoy they were securing.
Despite the charges, Munar maintains that sharing photos and videos of public events has become a common practice, and he shouldn’t be penalized for participating in this widespread online activity.
The Daily Netizen 