De Lima backs case vs vlogger: Free speech not for spreading lies

Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (Photo from House of Representatives)
MANILA, Philippines — Former senator and now Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima has reiterated that free speech must not be used to malign people or spread lies, as cyberlibel complaints were filed against a vlogger supportive of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a statement on Friday, de Lima said she supports Philippine Coast Guard PCG) spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela’s decision to sue vlogger Sass Rogando Sasot for supposedly spreading misinformation about him.
“As someone who has endured years of coordinated smears, online attacks, and relentless disinformation, I express my full support for Commodore Jay T. Tarriela’s decision to take legal action against the baseless and malicious accusations recently directed at him,” de Lima said on Friday.
“Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy. But it cannot be used as cover for lies meant to destroy reputations,” she added.
Tarriela on Friday explained that he filed the complaints against Sasot as the latter made accusations without providing actual evidence.
Part of the PCG official’s complaint was several claims from Sasot, like allegations that he received bags of money from 19th Congress House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez, and that he gets a “talent fee” from the United States.
READ: WPS spox Tarriela files cyberlibel raps vs vlogger Sass Sasot
Tarriela denied both claims.
De Lima, who has been a longtime target of political persecution and online attacks, commended the PCG official’s move to take legal action.
“Red-tagging, harassment, and vilification are part of a calculated playbook. They are meant to isolate those who serve honorably, to intimidate them into silence. I’ve lived through it,” she said.
“That is why drawing the line and defending one’s name is both justified and necessary.”
“Seeking legal recourse is an act of courage. It affirms the value of truth at a time when lies are amplified and monetized. It upholds the idea that those who serve the public deserve protection instead of persecution. I commend Commodore Tarriela’s resolve. His decision speaks not only for himself but also for every public servant who has chosen to face difficult truths rather than bend to convenient falsehoods,” she added.
Sasot and other social media personalities supportive of former President Duterte have been criticized for allegedly engaging in misinformation and disinformation.
During the hearings of the House tri-committee in the 19th Congress, several vloggers and bloggers were confronted with the social media posts that they made which were supposedly based on lies.
READ: Vloggers apologize to lawmakers for spreading false claims
Sasot, alleged former rebel Jeffrey Celiz, and former Communications undersecretary Lorraine Badoy were all cited for contempt for not attending the hearings.
Both Sasot and Badoy reasoned out that they are outside of the country right now.
READ: Sasot, Celiz, Badoy cited for contempt for skipping House hearing
Aside from Sasot, Celiz, and Badoy, the tri-committee also cited for contempt blogger Mark Anthony Lopez for speaking against the investigation, which lawmakers deemed to be a violation of the chamber’s internal rules.
Lopez was also called out for wrongly claiming during a tri-committee hearing that Philippine forces also do water cannon attacks like what China’s vessels did in the WPS.
Deputy Speaker David Suarez was asking Tarriela during that time as to whether he had been on the receiving end of social media attacks due to his ardent defense of the country’s territories.
When Tarriela said one of the bloggers who attacked him was present — Lopez.
Suarez asked the latter several questions related to the territorial dispute over the WPS, such as the incident when PCG vessels were being water-cannoned by Chinese Coast Guard ships.
Lopez said that the Philippine also does water cannon attacks — prompting Suarez, former Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel, and former Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano to demand that the blogger clarify his statements. (With reports from Lau Bacia, INQUIRER.net trainee) /gsg