Law vs fake news may be used against opposition -- Roque
By Roel Tibay
Published Jun 20, 2018 06:37 pm
By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
The proposed legislation penalizing government officials who spread "fake" news might be used against enemies of any administration.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque
(MANILA BULLETIN) Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque reminded of the possible danger of passing any law against supposed fake news as he maintained his opposition on the matter. "Unfortunately, kapag ikaw ay kakampi ng administrasyon, hindi gagamitin ang batas sa 'yo. Ginagamit lang yan sa kalaban ng isang gobyerno, kaya nga isa pang dahilan kung bakit hindi dapat magkaroon ng ganitong batas, dahil sigurado ako, kapag nagkaroon ng ganitong batas, 'yong oposisyon lang ang kakasuhan at sasampahan sila ng sangkatutak na kaso ng fake news," Roque said in an interview at the Senate. (Unfortunately, if you are an ally of the administration, the law would not be used against you. Rather, it would be used against the enemies of a government. That's why another reason why there should not be a law on this because, I'm sure, when this is enacted, only members of the opposition will be slapped with innumerable cases of fake news.) Roque attended on Wednesday the Senate committee on civil service, government reorganization and Professional Regulation's hearing on Senate Bill 1680, which seeks to prohibit government officials and employees from publishing and disseminating false news or information. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, chair of the panel, facilitated the hearing. In the hearing, the Palace official reiterated that he is against the approval of the measure as it would violate the right to free speech under the Constitution. And government officials, he noted, also enjoy the freedom of expression. Roque argued anew that defining "fake" news would be "problematic," even citing a statement made by Trillanes against him. "Sabi niyo na nasapian ng demoyo nung ako ay naging spokesperson. Pero yung statement na pong 'yan ay sino magsasabi kung 'yong sinabi sa akin ay katotohanan o hindi (You said I was possessed by the demon when I became spokesperson. But who can say that your statement was the truth or not)?" "Kung tatanungin niyo si Mocha Uson, sasabihin niya sinapian ako ng espitritu ng Panginoon nang ako'y naging spokesperson. So iba po ang mga pananaw natin (If you ask Asec. Mocha Uson, she would say that it was God's spirit that possessed me. So we have differing views)," he told Trillanes. Roque maintained his position that the public should be left to decide which would they consider as truth or fake. While he invoked the right of public officials and employees to freedom of expression, the Bill of Rights, he, on the other hand, said it was not made for the allies of the administration. "That's why there is the Bill of Rights, it is not intended to protect the friends of any administration. It is intended to protect those who may be prosecuted by the State. Kaya nga sabi ko yung pagbabawal sa ganitong batas ay para protektahan yung mga tao na nais apihin (That's why I'm saying that the prohibition of the Constitution is to protect the oppressed)," he said. Roque believes the spread of fake news, does not warrant criminal charges. He said existing remedies, such as the suspension or removal of a government official, are enough. "Ang sinasabi ko nga kapag nagkaraon ng batas magagamit sa lahat 'yan. Kung meron mapang-aping administrasyon, magagamit sa kalaban ng gobyerno, hindi lang sa kakampi (What I am saying is that when you enact such law, it could be used against everybody. If an administration is oppressive, it would be used against its enemies, not only on its allies)," Roque said.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque(MANILA BULLETIN) Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque reminded of the possible danger of passing any law against supposed fake news as he maintained his opposition on the matter. "Unfortunately, kapag ikaw ay kakampi ng administrasyon, hindi gagamitin ang batas sa 'yo. Ginagamit lang yan sa kalaban ng isang gobyerno, kaya nga isa pang dahilan kung bakit hindi dapat magkaroon ng ganitong batas, dahil sigurado ako, kapag nagkaroon ng ganitong batas, 'yong oposisyon lang ang kakasuhan at sasampahan sila ng sangkatutak na kaso ng fake news," Roque said in an interview at the Senate. (Unfortunately, if you are an ally of the administration, the law would not be used against you. Rather, it would be used against the enemies of a government. That's why another reason why there should not be a law on this because, I'm sure, when this is enacted, only members of the opposition will be slapped with innumerable cases of fake news.) Roque attended on Wednesday the Senate committee on civil service, government reorganization and Professional Regulation's hearing on Senate Bill 1680, which seeks to prohibit government officials and employees from publishing and disseminating false news or information. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, chair of the panel, facilitated the hearing. In the hearing, the Palace official reiterated that he is against the approval of the measure as it would violate the right to free speech under the Constitution. And government officials, he noted, also enjoy the freedom of expression. Roque argued anew that defining "fake" news would be "problematic," even citing a statement made by Trillanes against him. "Sabi niyo na nasapian ng demoyo nung ako ay naging spokesperson. Pero yung statement na pong 'yan ay sino magsasabi kung 'yong sinabi sa akin ay katotohanan o hindi (You said I was possessed by the demon when I became spokesperson. But who can say that your statement was the truth or not)?" "Kung tatanungin niyo si Mocha Uson, sasabihin niya sinapian ako ng espitritu ng Panginoon nang ako'y naging spokesperson. So iba po ang mga pananaw natin (If you ask Asec. Mocha Uson, she would say that it was God's spirit that possessed me. So we have differing views)," he told Trillanes. Roque maintained his position that the public should be left to decide which would they consider as truth or fake. While he invoked the right of public officials and employees to freedom of expression, the Bill of Rights, he, on the other hand, said it was not made for the allies of the administration. "That's why there is the Bill of Rights, it is not intended to protect the friends of any administration. It is intended to protect those who may be prosecuted by the State. Kaya nga sabi ko yung pagbabawal sa ganitong batas ay para protektahan yung mga tao na nais apihin (That's why I'm saying that the prohibition of the Constitution is to protect the oppressed)," he said. Roque believes the spread of fake news, does not warrant criminal charges. He said existing remedies, such as the suspension or removal of a government official, are enough. "Ang sinasabi ko nga kapag nagkaraon ng batas magagamit sa lahat 'yan. Kung meron mapang-aping administrasyon, magagamit sa kalaban ng gobyerno, hindi lang sa kakampi (What I am saying is that when you enact such law, it could be used against everybody. If an administration is oppressive, it would be used against its enemies, not only on its allies)," Roque said.