Content creators apologize for calling killings a hoax, using bad word

Online content creators on Friday apologized for social media posts that indicated among others that the killings in the war on drugs were a hoax and that used the Filipino word tanga or stupid in connection with a government cash doles program.

In a hearing of the House TriComm on cybercrimes and fake news, MJ Reyes and Krizette Chu apologized after they were confronted by lawmakers about their social media posts.

"I apologize, sir, and as I said, sa susunod po, maghahanap muna tayo ng dokumento at hindi po tayo nagre-rely sa mga balita," Reyes said in the inquiry conducted by the House committees on public order, on public information, and on information and communication technology.

(I apologize, sir, and as I said, moving forward we will first look for documents and not rely on reports.)

Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante had confronted Reyes for saying in a social media post that killings in the war on drugs under the Duterte administration were "a massive hoax" and that there were "criminal forces that twist reality to turn a strong, decisive leader into a monster." 

"I mean, my goodness, if you would like to be a resource person here in this committee, you need to have a basis, a real basis, a document that can say that," Abante said.

"Because look, the Commission on Human Rights, for example, investigated and saw a lot of extrajudicial killings and you say this is a massive hoax? Huwag naman (Don't do that)... Where did you get that information?” he added.

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Reyes said it was in the news but Abang Lingkod Rep. Stephen Paduano said the war on drugs killings had been confirmed by the Commission on Human Rights.

"Do you have a document for that? You have a document, under oath, that indeed, the family of the victims disputed that data..?” Paduano said.

“None, Sir. It’s on...next time po, bago po tayo magsulat ng mga ganyan, kumuha muna po tayo ng dokumento,” Reyes said.

(Next time, we will get documents before we write things like those.)

Abante told Reyes, "You are accountable to the victims, you are accountable to the House Quad Comm. You disputed the victims. If you do not apologize, I am going to make a motion to hold you in contempt.”

Abante then asked Reyes to identify the criminal forces to whom she referred.

"Ito po ay mga reaction at opinyon ko lamang. I apologize," Reyes said.

(These are my reactions and opinions. I apologize.)

Chu apologized for the use of the word tanga in her Facebook post on the distribution of cash doles while the country's borrowings pile up.

"My lawyer and I talked, and my case is a matter of oversight. And I apologize, sir," Chu later said. 

“Hindi po kayo iyong sinasabihan ko ng tanga, Mr. Chair. Nasa news po kasi na mag-uutang tayo. Mr. Chair, those are my feelings. I will apologize for my bad words, Sir. I apologize for saying the word tanga in my post.”

Tingog Rep. Jude Acidre and Abante called out Chu for saying in a Facebook post that many police and soldiers wanted to resign over the March 11 arrest of f Duterte over alleged crimes against humanity linked to killings in the war on drugs.

Chu’s Facebook post added, "They cannot be part of this government daw."

(They said they can't be part of this government.)

Acidre asked Chu how many police resigned, and Chu replied, “If you go on TikTok, there are policemen. Sir, I am not counting. These are general impressions, sir.”

To which, Abante said, “Binanggit mo yung daw, daw, daw."

(You're saying according to them.)

"Is that what you feel? Or are you trying to say now that that is what the masses feel?" Abante said.

“That is the impression I got from social media platforms. We call it a social media impression, sir," Chu said.

Abante then asked Police Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, director of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) if there was indeed mass resignation over the arrest of Duterte.

"Nobody on record who filed their resignation, Sir, just because of the Duterte arrest. None on record right now," Torre said.

Chu said she believed Torre because he had "insider information."

Abante then asked Chu, "Therefore, you were wrong. Yes or no?"

Chu replied, “Yes, Sir.”

Chu, however, said her subject post on mass resignation was not something for which she should apologize.

”I will not apologize only because if you read the entire post, it was to support the PNP and it was a good post. It was not news. I made sure to put the word daw because no police can ascertain the name. I am maintaining that I am speaking the truth of the impressions made on social media,” Chu said. –NB, GMA Integrated News