Raffy Tulfo Helps Diwata After Wrongful Arrest Over Fake ID
DIWATA — The content creator and small business owner, whose real name is Deo Jarito Balbuena, sought assistance from Raffy Tulfo in Action (RTIA) after being wrongfully arrested for an offense he did not commit. The issue stemmed from an incident in Mandaluyong involving the Anti-Street Obstruction Ordinance (No. 628, S-2016) — a regulation that prohibits drinking and blocking public streets.
According to Diwata, police officers from the Warrant Section of Trece Martires, Cavite arrived at his home in General Trias on October 7 to serve a warrant of arrest issued by a Mandaluyong court for an individual bearing his name, Deo Jarito Balbuena. Without properly verifying the suspect’s true identity, the officers took him into custody. Fortunately, he had enough funds to post bail and secure his release. Shocked and confused, Diwata explained that he had never been to Mandaluyong, where the alleged violation occurred.
The arresting officer, Patrolman Johary Bogagong, later explained that he had apprehended five men in March for drinking along a public street in Mandaluyong — an act prohibited under the ordinance. Each individual was fined ₱500. Four of them presented valid identification cards, while the fifth showed a TIN ID with a blurry photo. When asked to provide a clearer ID, the man refused, claiming it would violate the Data Privacy Act. The TIN ID carried Diwata’s name and his former address in Cavite. When none of the offenders paid their fines, the Mandaluyong police forwarded the case to the court, which eventually issued the warrant under Diwata’s name.
In an interview with Senator Raffy Tulfo, Patrolman Bogagong admitted that Diwata was not the person he apprehended, confirming that the real offender had used a fake ID bearing Diwata’s information. This proved that Diwata was a victim of identity theft and police negligence.
Deeply distressed and humiliated, Diwata stated that he came forward to prevent similar incidents from happening to others. Senator Tulfo announced plans to file a Senate resolution aimed at strengthening police procedures and ensuring proper verification before serving arrest warrants.
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