Abante calls some vloggers ‘stupid’: They write without thinking
FILE PHOTO: Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. Photo screengrab from House of Representatives YouTube livestream.
MANILA, Philippines — Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. on Friday lashed out at some vloggers who insinuated that lawmakers are “dimwits,” firing back by saying that these social media personalities are “stupid” because they write without thinking.
At the House of Representatives tri-committee’s hearing, Abante grilled vlogger MJ Quiambao-Reyes due to her claim that there were no extrajudicial killings (EJKs) that happened during the Duterte administration’s drug war.
Abante also quizzed Reyes due to her claim that many in the government are part of “criminal forces” and are “stupid.”
“Thank you very much for saying that the post has nothing to do with me, but the criminal forces that you are referring to, they claim that we are part of it. Please think deeply, this is so hard Mr. Chair, some of these bloggers are really stupid,” Abante said in Filipino.
“It’s the government who is stupid? Think better, don’t just write whatever you want to write. You’re telling us that we are criminal forces, I want to say now publicly, you (Reyes) are stupid,” he added.
Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano then moved that the Manila lawmaker’s words be stricken from the record
“Mr. Chairman, just a matter of protocol, may I move to strike out the statement of Chairman Abante, addressed to MJ [Reyes],” Paduano said in his motion, which was approved by presiding officer and Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel after it was seconded.
Abante explained that his outburst stemmed from Reyes not being able to explain where she got the claims that lawmakers were part of a criminal group. At this point, Reyes was already crying.
“I rest Mr. Chair and thank you so much, I’m not angry at you MJ, we’re just ferreting the truth here,” he said.
“Okay your Honor but again, I don’t understand where you are getting the idea that you are part of the criminal forces,” Reyes said.
“But you’re the one who wrote it. My goodness,” Abante fired back.
Prior to this exchange, Abante and Paduano already called out Reyes for her claims on EJKs being a “hoax” as the vlogger was unable to present documentary evidence to back up her claims.
Abante said that aside from the Commission on Human Rights, his panel, the House committee on human rights, also verified the existence of drug war victims and possible EJKs.
In the end, Quiambao admitted that she does not have any document proving that EJKs were a hoax.
The tri-committee has been tasked to probe the spread of disinformation online after several resolutions were filed and privilege speeches about the matter were delivered.
READ: 40 socmed users, platform reps invited to House fake news probe
Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers was one of the lawmakers who delivered a privilege speech following rumors about him and other chairpersons of the quad committee that investigated the Duterte administration’s drug war. The quad panel also probed illegal activities in Philippine offshore gaming operators.
Studies have shown that Filipinos, one of the more prevalent social media and internet users across the globe, are susceptible to misinformation and disinformation.
Just recently, House lawmakers called out fake news spreading on social media after former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and taken into custody by the International Criminal Court.
Some Duterte supporters have shared social media posts stating that the Supreme Court received a petition containing 16 million signatures, asking that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. step down from office.
The Office of the SC spokesperson Camille Ting said the high tribunal has not received any document bearing the title “Supreme Court Receives Petition on 16 Million Signatures Calling for President Marcos’ Resignation,” adding that their office has not issued such a document.
READ: SC denies receiving Marcos resignation petition
According to the SC, the supposed document was spread by Facebook accounts under the names “Choose Libungan” and “Bernard Flores Maicon.”
The SC also vowed to investigate these acts of disinformation and take necessary measures, ”including the imposition of proper sanctions on those responsible.”
