.
Romana Didulo, a self-proclaimed “Queen of Canada” who promotes conspiracy theories, was arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on Wednesday. Police said Didulo was detained along with 16 others after officers executed a search warrant at a decommissioned school in Richmound, Saskatchewan, where she had been living for two years, reported BBC.She livestreamed what appeared to be her arrest on Telegram, showing armed officers entering a room. One officer can be heard saying, “Leave the phone down. You’re under arrest.”RCMP said they searched the property and seized four replica handguns and eight RVs. No resistance or gunfire was reported. Didulo, 48, and 16 others remain in custody. Charges had not been laid as of Wednesday afternoon. Who is Romana Didulo?
- Didulo emigrated from the Philippines to Canada as a teenager. She ran several businesses before starting a fringe political party in 2020.
- She declared that she had overthrown Canada’s government and claimed US military support.
- On Telegram, she commands more than 36,000 followers and issues “decrees” promising to cancel bills and debts. Many supporters have lost homes, cars and possessions after following her orders.
- She spreads sovereign citizen ideas, anti-vaccine conspiracies, and QAnon-linked claims that Donald Trump is secretly fighting a cabal of paedophiles in government and media.
- Her group took part in the 2022 “Freedom convoy” protests in Ottawa. Last year, some followers tried to “arrest” police officers in Ontario but were themselves detained.
