Internet sensation Francis Leo Marcos who was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday, is facing a violation of Optometry Law and human trafficking charges.
Entrepreneur “FLM” was arrested in Quezon City on an arrest warrant issued by a court in Baguio City for allegedly violating Optometry Law when he distributed prescription eyeglasses without the permission of the Philippine Association of Optometrists.
In a previous interview with PEP.ph, Marcos revealed he started his volunteer work by sponsoring the Optimum Eye Care Program, which gives free eyeglasses to those who cannot afford to buy.
“Para do’n sa mga taong nasaling ko ang damdamin do’n sa aking ‘Mayaman Challenge,’ ako nama’y humingi na ng tawad sa inyo e,” said Marcos in John Consulta’s report in GMA News “24 Oras.”
(For those who got hurt by my ‘Mayaman Challenge,’ I am asking for forgiveness.)
“Kumbaga, ang layunin ko lang naman dito’y makatulong, hindi para makaperwisyo. Pero gano’n talaga, tatanggapin ko po ‘yang persecution na ‘yan. Walang problema kung ako’y pine-persecute diyan,” added Marcos who has over one million followers on his Youtube account.
(My only intention was to help, not to cause harm. But that’s how life is. I will accept the persecution. I have no problem if they persecuting me because of that.)
Also read: Who is Francis Leo Marcos?
Francis Leo Marcos faces Optometry Law, human trafficking charges
According to NBI Cybercrime Division chief Vic Lorenzo, Marcos is also using the name Norman Mangusin.
“May mga dokumento tayo kasing na-retrieve diyan na mga magpapatunay na siya nga ‘yung Norman Mangusin,” said Lorenzo.
(We retrieved a document that proves he is Norman Mangusin.)
“He submitted a passport na Francis Leo Marcos tapos isang dokumento naman na [then another document is] Norman Mangusin. So which is which? Pero kami, naniniwala kami [we believe] that his real name is Norman Mangusin,” he added.
Many questioned FLM’s real identity and said his real name was Norman Mangusin and not Francis Leo Marcos.
Marcos said his mother used to call him Norman when he was in grade three until when he was studying. But when a time came when his mother allegedly revealed to him that he was part of one of the most influential families in the country, the Marcoses.
FLM did not clarify whether the Marcos family acknowledged him. He only said he had “privileged communication” with them.
NBI deputy director Ferdinand Lavin said Marcos was also charged with “non-bailable” case in connection with the violation of the Anti-Human Trafficking in Persons Act in 2006 for allegedly recruiting children.
Marcos denied all of the allegations against him and insisted he was innocent.