Cebu artist arrested for satirical COVID-19 post
Cebu City artist Maria Victoria 'Bambi' Beltran was arrested on Sunday for a sarcastic Facebook post about coronavirus cases in Sitio Zapatera.
Beltran's post said there were 9,000+ new cases of COVID-19 in Cebu City, making the area the epicenter of the universe, which she clarified was satirical.
Despite her clarification, Mayor Edgar Labella ordered Beltran's arrest for violating Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Law), RA 11469 (Bayanihan Heal As One Law), and RA 1132 (mandatory reporting of certain diseases).
The mayor stated it was not personal, but an implementation of the law.
Sitio Zapatera has 135 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with most residents asymptomatic.
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