Quezon City Rep. Bernadette Herrera ‘ironically’ called out Facebook for its censorship of suspected troll farms, who were behind the massive spread of fake news and disinformation in the Philippines, eventually earning flak amongst ABS-CBN personalities, Wednesday, September 1.
The said lawmaker was among the 70 congressmen who voted against ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal bid.
In an open letter, Herrera sought a dialogue with Facebook’s country manager in the Philippines, rebuking the social media site for “unilaterally removing content it deemed inappropriate for its platform.”
Herrera then went on that Facebook’s actions caused “to undermine the freedom of expression that is guaranteed under the Philippine Constitution.”
Over Twitter, Kapamilya personalities were ridiculed and amazed by Herrera’s letter, claiming that the social media platform is infringing Filipinos’ right to freedom of expression.
— Jacque Manabat (@jacquemanabat) September 1, 2021
TV personality and former PBB: Connect housemate Justin Dizon reiterated that Herrera was among the lawmakers who shut down the largest network in the country. Dizon then ridiculed the congresswoman for her ‘freedom of expression’ statement, pointing that such right is only applicable against the state and not a person.
HOY WAIT LANG ISA ITO SA MGA NAGPASARA SA ABS-CBN!!!
Maka freedom of expression ka jan akala mo ang linis mo. Talaga sharmaine?
And you can only invoke the constitutional right to freedom of expression against the state. Hindi yan applicable sa Facebook. Ay sus. https://t.co/GkL0imAqBY
— Justin Dizon (@iamjustindizon) September 1, 2021
Even reporter Jeff Canoy sarcastically tweeted, “I mean,” contradicting Herrera’s open letter.
I mean https://t.co/kyRvCiPatT
— Jeff Canoy (@jeffcanoy) September 1, 2021
Kapamilya journo Lynda Jumilla-Abalos also shared how the letter of the congresswoman seemed funny to her as she tweeted, “sorry natawa ako.”
sorry natawa ako. https://t.co/OdNHa9Uif8
— Lynda Jumilla-Abalos (@lyndajumilla) September 1, 2021
Mike Navallo, another Kapamilya journalist, threw some shade at Herrera by making her remember what she did during ABS-CBN’s franchise hearing.
Rep. Bernadette Herrera to Facebook: I must heed the call of the people when they allege their freedoms of expression have been undermined and are uncertain as to the cause.
ABS-CBN workers/supporters: 👀 https://t.co/VXVOGOgIT1
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) September 1, 2021
Netizens also joined in as they lambast the congresswoman for her supposed to be ‘open letter’.
A Netizen considered Herrera as an example of not remembering what she had done to restrict the right to freedom of expression when she helped shut down ABS-CBN.
Eto yung example na nalunod sa isang basong tubig at nagka-amnesia pa.
ABS-CBN is shaking in laughter. https://t.co/7NEuRxc13Z— BehJoyce (@beejoyceful) September 1, 2021
Others poked fun at the open letter for having Herrera’s picture included.
https://twitter.com/nelfaglova/status/1432987776593526784
Some even became grammar police with the closing remark of Herrera’s letter being redundant.
Sincerely na very truly yours pa. Panis. https://t.co/hi4WTV1RlW
— Aldrin Odinada (@asodinada) September 1, 2021
A Netizen then expressed his opinion describing Herrera making herself a “VIP” seeking an explanation for why some of her posts were deleted by Facebook.
Nagpapaka VIP, feeling nyo kayo lang? US President nga di iniinda, kapag mali at violation ayun sa standard nila, tanggal agad. Ipa-ban nyo ang FB sa Pinas kung masyadong naapektuhan ang community na nirerepresent nyo!
— Jose Artemio Policarpio III (@joieva) September 1, 2021
Facebook, the social media and social networking giant founded by Mark Zuckerberg, was a private company until 2012. It became a public-held company after it sold a huge amount of its stocks to the public market.
The company, being now open to the public, still has its own guidelines and protocols that users must follow, including their own standard on what should be allowed on their site or not.
Meanwhile, Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Michael Defensor filed House Bill No. 2112, which hopes to investigate the alleged information censorship methods imposed by Facebook.
“Considering Facebook’s huge influence in our country’s moral, political, national security and also in securing private corporate interests, there is a need to clarify its Information Censorship Methods,” he said after filing the said bill.
The Philippines, the world’s number 1 social media user, has been infested by trolls, fake news peddlers, and disinformation.
In 2020, Facebook revealed that several social media accounts belonging to two networks in China and the Philippines were removed after indicting them of “coordinated inauthentic behavior or manipulation of campaigns.” The Philippine network was traced to a group associated with the military accused of red-tagging individuals critical of the Duterte administration.
A total of 57 Facebook accounts, 31 pages, and 20 Instagram accounts allied with the said network have been taken down.
