Maria Victoria Beltran a Cebu film writer and owner of a local bar was arrested early morning on Sunday, April 19, 2020, over-posting a piece of fake news about Coronavirus in Sitio Zapatera, Cebu City. According to Maria Victoria Beltran’s lawyer, Vincent Isles, “It’s an egregious violation of her rights,” Isles said in a text message. He said that they have no information on what the exact charges are and who issued the arrest warrant.

According to Brigadier General Albert Ferro, Central Visayas’ police director, send a text message to Rappler that Beltran was being charged with violating Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Law.

Maria Victoria Beltran’s official Facebook Page posts, “9,000+ new cases (all from Zapatera) of COVID-19 in Cebu City in one day. We are now the epicenter in the whole solar system.”

Mayor Edgar Labella reacts to the post of Beltran, “This is FAKE NEWS and this is a criminal act. Just wait Ms. Beltran, you’ll soon be caught by the PNP Cybercrime Unit. You’ll really be thrown in prison.”

“Upon the advice of counsel, [I] had temporarily taken down the post characterized by the Hon. Mayor Edgar Labella as fake news and violative of our laws. There was no intent to spread confusion and fear by the posting of the said post. We hold that prosecution of any person under Sec. 6(f) of Republic Act No. 11469 can only occur when the post is “clearly geared to promote chaos, anarchy, fear, or confusion,” Ms. Beltran said.

She added “even an ordinary person without the benefit of being exposed to the finer qualities of literature.”

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