Ex-PNP officer arrested for inciting sedition over social media posts

Francis Steve Fontillas, a vlogger and dismissed police officer, was arrested in Quezon City on Monday based on a warrant for inciting to sedition.

The arrest stems from social media posts Fontillas made while in PNP uniform, which included remarks about toppling the government and threats against the International Criminal Police Organization.

Fontillas had previously stated, "To ICC (International Criminal Court) and Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization), don't even lay your finger on our Tatay Digong or else we will start the war that you can't even imagine. This is not a warning; this is a threat!"

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) filed the complaint for violating Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 224 Judge Zita Marie Atienza-Fajardo issued the arrest warrant and recommended bail at P36,000.

Fontillas was dismissed from the PNP on May 8 for grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a police officer, and disloyalty to the government.

PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III described the incident as an isolated case and an aberration within the organization.