ERMITA, Manila — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed criminal complaints before the Department of Justice (DoJ) against Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-LABAN) senatorial candidate Atty. Raul Lambino for allegedly spreading false information.

Based on the complaints, Lambino was accused of spreading information that the Supreme Court issued a restraining order on former president Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest and subsequent surrender to the International Court (ICC) last month.

Also included in the complaint is former National Youth Commission (NYC) chairman Ronald Gian Carlo Cardema.

NBI Technical Intelligence Service agent Allen Rey Delfin disclosed that they filed cases against Lambino and Cardema for violation of Article 154 ng Revised Penal Code, which spells out the unlawful use of means of publication or unlawful utterances.

Dekfin added that violation of such law is punishable by imprisonment ranging from one month and one day to six months, along with a fine between P40,000 and P200,000.

In a Facebook live, Lambino on March 11 claimed that the SC has issued a TRO against Duterte’s arrest. However, no restraining order was actually issued. On the other hand, Cardema made similar claims during a media interview.

Sought for comment, the former NYC chair cited that the complaint is a form of harassment for speaking last March 11 at Villamor Air Base to defend Duterte.

“What happened to the freedom of speech enshrined in the Philippine constitution? Of course when you arrest a former Philippine President, loved and voted by the majority of the Filipino people, of course there will be many speeches in defense of him and against his arrest,” he queried while stressing that “instead of investigating the so many kidnappings and heinous crimes happening now in the country, the NBI leadership has decided to use government time and resources to investigate (him) for a speech defending President Rodrigo Duterte on his arrest/detention.”

Lambino has yet to comment as of posting time.