Former Policeman Nabbed for Sedition
FRANCIS STEVE FONTILLAS — A former police patrolman turned vlogger was arrested for posting content related to sedition on social media.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) confirmed that the arrest was carried out based on a warrant issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 224. He faces charges under the Cybercrime Prevention Act, and bail was set at ₱36,000.
Fontillas gained online attention for his bold and critical videos, particularly his posts from March 12 to 13. In these videos, he was seen wearing a police uniform while allegedly making threats against the government and Interpol. Authorities stated that the posts quickly went viral and caused public concern.
These statements came after news broke regarding former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently facing charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Fontillas strongly opposed the ICC’s actions, stating that he would go to “war” if Duterte were arrested. He also claimed he could arrest President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. once he leaves office and insisted that he would never follow any order he considered wrong.
As a result of these posts, the Quezon City Police District filed formal charges of inciting to sedition against him. Fontillas had already been dismissed from the police force and is permanently barred from holding any government position.
Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III described Fontillas as an isolated case, saying his actions do not reflect the values of the police organization. “We have 220,000 people; siya lang naman mag-isa ang gumawa no’n at wala naman iba,” Torre said, assuring the public that the PNP remains professional and committed to its responsibilities.
In a previous interview, Fontillas defended his statements, claiming he was merely expressing his opinions and had no intention of inciting sedition. However, it will be up to the court to determine whether his remarks went beyond the limits of free speech.
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