A JOURNALIST sought the intervention of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after filing criminal complaints against two online news pages for allegedly publishing false, misleading, and malicious articles that portrayed him as a criminal aggressor.
In a sworn Complaint-Affidavit filed on Tuesday with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and received by NBI Special Investigator Atty. Fem Martinez of the Cybercrime Division, Jefferson Gallos Tumbado accused the Facebook pages “Balita Ngayon Online News” and “Newsroom Pilipinas,” along with their administrators, of cyber libel and violations of the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
Also named in the complaints were individuals identified as page administrators—Roy Tomandao and Arman Cambe for Balita Ngayon Online News, and Robert Maico, Noel Alamar, and Kaye Balba for Newsroom Pilipinas.
Tumbado said the latter were employees of the Laguna Provincial Government under job order status at the time of publication.
Crystal “Tala” Candaza was likewise included for allegedly recording and manipulating video footage without consent.
The complaints stem from a January 23, 2026 article titled “Lalaki nag-amok sa Kapitolyo ng Laguna,” which circulated widely on Facebook and explicitly identified Tumbado by name as the alleged “suspect” in a confrontation at the Laguna Provincial Capitol. Tumbado categorically denied the accusations, stating that the article falsely portrayed him as having threatened another individual with a baseball bat while deliberately omitting crucial facts to make him appear as the aggressor.
He emphasized that the report was patently false, malicious, and misleading, as it grossly misrepresented the true circumstances of the incident.
He stressed that there was no physical altercation, no pursuit of any individual, no swinging of a bat, and no act whatsoever that could reasonably be construed as an “amok” incident.
Tumbado further asserted that the respondents’ actions constitute a serious breach of professional and ethical standards, amounting to gross misconduct and negligence in the performance of their official duties.
According to the affidavit, Tumbado said the confrontation was initiated by respondent Robert Maico, who allegedly approached him from behind, issued verbal threats, and acted in a manner that led him to believe a weapon was about to be drawn.
Fearing for his safety, Tumbado said he retrieved a baseball bat solely for self-defense and did not threaten or assault anyone.
He further claimed that a video taken by Crystal “Tala” Candaza was recorded without his consent and selectively edited to misrepresent the incident, reinforcing what he described as a false narrative pushed by the online pages.
The journalist also assailed the article’s reference to an unrelated 2023 controversy involving the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), calling it a malicious attempt to revive a past issue to further damage his credibility, despite the article itself stating that the matter had no connection to the incident.
Tumbado accused the respondents of reckless journalism, saying they failed to verify facts, failed to seek his side, and published defamatory accusations with full knowledge of the harm such content would cause once circulated online.
He further alleged that the publication of his full name, image, and personal circumstances without consent constituted unlawful processing of personal information, exposing him to public ridicule, threats, and security risks.
Through the complaints, Tumbado is seeking the filing of criminal charges for cyber libel and data privacy violations, as well as other legal remedies, saying the case raises serious concerns about abuse of online platforms, weaponization of edited content, and accountability in digital media.
Tumbado, a former president of the Samahan ng mga Mamamahayag sa Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SMSBFZ) and the Zambales Provincial Police Office (ZPPO) media group, and a recipient of the Gawad Dangal Filipino Award—conferred by a prestigious civic organization as Outstanding Field Reporter of the Year in 2019—said the case was particularly troubling considering that the respondents had only recently taken their oaths before Laguna Governor Sol Aragones to uphold fair, accurate, and balanced reporting.
He asserted that, despite this commitment, the respondents themselves were responsible for producing and disseminating what he described as fake news.
Tumbado also personally submitted a letter of complaint to Governor Sol Aragones through her administrator, Atty. Nathalie Irene Velasquez, seeking disciplinary action against the concerned Provincial Capitol employees under the supervision of the Provincial Public Information Office, headed by Mr. Danilo Lucas.
As of this writing, no action has yet been taken by Mr. Lucas regarding the matter.
He also sought the assistance of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in relation to the alleged violations, noting that the respondents are government employees serving under Job Order status.
Separate complaint for grave threats
Meanwhile, Tumbado has also filed a separate criminal complaint with the NBI after allegedly receiving a threatening message through social media.
According to his complaint, Tumbado received the message on January 25, 2026, via Facebook Messenger, and identified the sender as a Facebook account named “Rom Myk,” which he claimed belongs to Robert Maico, a resident of Cabuyao, Laguna.
Tumbado alleged that the message contained a direct threat, causing him fear and concern for his safety. He said the communication was unsolicited and sent by someone who was not his Facebook friend.
The complaint cites grave threats under the Revised Penal Code, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, since the message was allegedly transmitted online.
Screenshots of the message were attached as evidence.
As of this writing, the respondents have not publicly issued statements regarding the complaints.
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