Palace backs free speech – even in music videos

MANILA, Philippines — Even music videos, no matter how unpopular they may be, can be considered part of Filipinos’ freedom of expression and that civil right is also extended to foreigners living in the Philippines, Malacañang said on Sunday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made that reminder as Filipino netizens raged against a music video, produced by the Chinese embassy, celebrating Philippine-Chinese solidarity in the fight against the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“A video and even songs are part of the freedom of expression. Our Supreme Court says all rights enshrined in our Bill of Rights are also extended to foreigners living in our country,” Roque said.

The Chinese embassy released the video shortly after a team of 12 Chinese medical experts visited the country to provide technical advice against the disease that has infected 7,579 and killed 501 Filipinos.

But the goodwill spurred by the visit was dampened by news that Chinese warships in February aimed its weapons control radars at Philippine Navy vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

Filipinos took to social media to rail against the “Iisang Dagat (One Sea)” video, a four-minute video featuring singer and Camarines Sur Vice Gov. Imelda Papin, Chinese diplomat Xia Wenxin, Chinese-Filipino Johnvid Bangayan and Chinese actor Yu Bin singing a song written by Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian.

The video has tallied 121,000 dislikes and 1,500 likes on YouTube on Sunday.

Roque also downplayed reports that the government had sought the deportation of a Filipino caregiver in Taiwan for allegedly posting “nasty and malevolent materials” against the President on social media.