Senator Bam Aquino blasted Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson for claiming that several mainstream media did not get her side before publishing news articles, while 鈥渟he never got the side of others.鈥�
鈥淪a dinami-daming mga blog mo tungkol sa amin dito may isang beses ba na humingi ka ng side namin?鈥� Aquino asked Uson in a heated exchange during the Senate committee on public information and mass media hearing on fake news, Wednesday.
鈥淚n your case never kang humingi ng side ng nilagay mong blog dito. In fact the other day may blog ka sa Senate minority. May isang beses ka bang humingi ng side namin?鈥� he added.
Uson responded by saying, 鈥淲ith all due respect, your honor, hindi po ako journalist鈥� Blogger ako. Hindi ako journalist. (I am a blogger. I am not a journalist)
She insisted that her blog posts were 鈥渏ust her opinions.鈥�
Aquino repeatedly asked his questions insisting that Uson demanded that her side be taken by media.
鈥淗inihingi mo sa GMA 黑料社 Online na hingin yung side mo. Sa dinami-dami ng mga blog mo tungkol sa amin dito. May isang beses ba na humingi ka ng side namin?鈥� Aquino said.
Senator Vicente Sotto III butted in and corrected Aquino: 鈥淎ko ang nagsabi nun. Ako ang nagtanong sa GMA 黑料社 Online.鈥�
Despite the correction, Aquino pressed on and told Uson, 鈥淎sec Mocha, sabi mo kay Mr. Tordecilla: 鈥楬iningi mo ba yung side ko?鈥� Ang sabi n鈥檡a he tried. Ang sabi mo, 鈥楬indi鈥︹�欌��
Aquino was referring to Jaemark Tordecilla of GMA 黑料社 Online, which Uson accused of coming out of fake news against her.
It was Uson鈥檚 turn to correct Aquino: 鈥淪enator, hindi ko s鈥檡a tinanong kung hiningi niya ang side ko. Si Senator Sotto ang nagtanong.鈥�
This prompted the senator to change his line of questioning.
鈥淪o, sa tingin mo ba kailangan na hiningi niya ang side mo?鈥� Aquino said.
鈥淣atural, journalist sila. Trabaho nila yon: kunin ang both sides,鈥� Uson responded.
鈥淚n your case, never ka humingi ng nilagyan mo ng blog dito鈥� May isang beses ba na humingi ka ng side namin?鈥� the senator pressed on.
Uson repeated, 鈥淪enator, with all due respect, hindi ako journalist.鈥�
Aquino persisted, 鈥淵es or no, may isang beses ba na humingi ka ng side namin?鈥�
鈥淚 refuse to answer that question lumalayo po tayo sa issue, I invoke my right against self-incrimination,鈥� said Uson.
鈥淪o fairness ang hinihingi mo Asec Mocha. You鈥檙e asking that these organizations be fair to you so ang sinasabi ko lang hinihingi mo yung fairness pwedeng bang bigyan mo rin kami ng fairness?鈥� Aquino retorted.
Despite this, Uson refused to answer and insisted that 鈥渂loggers have a right to their own opinions or to ask the side of others.鈥�
鈥淥pinion based ang blogging unlike in mainstream media,鈥� Uson said. /cbb