MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday said it has linked the same group of individuals to separate online threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sen. Risa Hontiveros, with investigators claiming they have already made significant headway in identifying those involved.
NBI director Melvin Matibag said the bureau has already penetrated the network behind the online threats but withheld further details to avoid compromising the ongoing investigation.
“Actually, we’ve already penetrated it. Though I cannot give too many details because we are still investigating,” Matibag told reporters.
Matibag said the NBI has received numerous reports involving threats against President Marcos and that investigators discovered that some of the same personalities are also linked to threatening messages directed at Hontiveros.
The bureau has already identified persons of interest and is continuing to build its case before filing the appropriate complaints with the Department of Justice (DOJ), he added.
While declining to identify those under investigation, Matibag said authorities are focused on gathering additional evidence to strengthen the cases against the suspected individuals.
The NBI launched its investigation into the threats against Hontiveros after the senator received death threats on social media following the fatal shooting of vlogger Alicia “Mima Alicia” Lipata outside her residence in Caloocan City on July 17.
The bureau earlier disclosed that it was investigating the online threats against Hontiveros. The inquiry has since expanded after investigators uncovered information allegedly linking the same personalities to threats against President Marcos./PN
