Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.’ and Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes. AFP and INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines — After a rather undiplomatic, if not violent, tweet against militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Twitter has locked the account of the Philippines’ top diplomat for breaking its rules.
Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes has reported Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.’s March 5 tweet tagging the group as communists that they should be shot.
“Twitter has locked the account of DFA secretary Teddyboy Locsin for his abusive tweet tagging Bayan as communists that deserve to be shot. Locsin was reacting to Bayan’s statement on the RP-US Balikatan exercises in May,” Reyes said in a statement on Monday.
Teddyboy Locsin, DFA secretary, has his Twitter account locked for this offensive and threatening tweet accusing Bayan as communists that deserve to be shot. Will not share his abusive tweet here. It is enough that we fight back against those who wish to silence dissent. pic.twitter.com/MgMIGl6ujv
— Renato Reyes, Jr. (@natoreyes) March 9, 2020
“We welcome this action by Twitter. For so long, Locsin thought he could get away with anything. But when he threatens harm on activists who are merely expressing their views, we will have to draw the line and fight back,” he added.
Reyes said Bayan is “not afraid of engaging” the foreign affairs chief “in a civil debate.”
“But we will not allow him to abuse this platform and his office just so he can silence others. He is abusive and appalling,” he added.
“We look forward to his return to Twitter and perhaps by then, learn some humility and tolerance in dealing with opinions that are different from his,” he added.