Sparks fly as senators, pro-Duterte bloggers face off at ‘fake news’ probe

Several opposition senators faced off with pro-Duterte bloggers who have criticized them on social media during the Senate public information committee hearing on fake news Wednesday.

Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, and Antonio Trillanes IV called out blogger RJ Nieto of Thinking Pinoy and Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson for allegedly posting fake news on their social media accounts.

Both Nieto and Uson are staunch supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte since the latter ran for presidency in 2016.

The senators said both bloggers should be more responsible in their social media posts because of their huge following.

They also pointed out that the two are part of the government; Uson being under the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), and Nieto being a consultant at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Trillanes said that as part of the PCOO, Uson was no longer entitled to have a “separate opinion" on her blog.

Trillanes told Uson to use her social media accounts in a “positive way.”

“You have a strong influence sa public, gamitin mo yan in a positive way. Be a good influence to those who are following you,” Trillanes said.

Pangilinan, president of the former ruling Liberal Party (LP), asked Nieto about a 2016 blog post wherein he stated reasons why the LP would need to assasinate President Rodrigo Duterte.

“That is a serious statement. Were there facts — did you provide facts for you to be able to somehow conclude that the LP needs to assasinate President Duterte?” Pangilinan asked Nieto.

Nieto argued that his Thinking Pinoy blog is a political blog and that he “likes to imagine scenarios based on how people would act.”

“I try to understand human nature…But I’m not saying that it will actually happen,” Nieto said.

Aquino confronted Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson on the issue of fairness, saying the latter has never tried to get his or the opposition's side despite her repeated attacks against them on her social media posts.

Asked if she had tried getting the side of opposition senators in her blog posts, Uson said: "I have the right to... I have a right... I have the right... ano po? I have the right to... against self- discri... ano, against self-incrimination... Sensya na."

Uson insisted she was just a blogger and not a journalist, and that she was entitled to express her opinions in her personal blog. Uson runs the Facebook page Mocha Uson Blog.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, however, quoted Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar, Uson's superior, in a piece he had written as saying: "Bloggers have to follow journalists code of ethics. Straight from the horse's mouth."

"Bloggers want the stature of mass media but do not want its responsibility," Hontiveros added.

Senator Nancy Binay, meanwhile, said it was high time for Uson to decide whether she wants to be a full-time blogger or a government official.

Trillanes echoed Binay's advice to Uson.

“You have to decide kung gagamitin mo ang blog mo to defend, to promote Duterte and to explain his policies. By all means, gawin mo. Pero ang ayaw natin dito, gagamitin mo yang medium na yan tapos walang liability,” Trillanes said.

Uson, however, called out some media organizations for supposedly publishing fake news against her, saying she, too, was a victim of fake news. — MDM, GMA News