Archbishop Tagle’s name dragged in protests vs cybercrime law

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Even Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle appeared to have been victimized by misinformation using the social media.

Amid the raging protest over the Cybercrime Prevention Act, a statement using the archbishop’s name started circulating on the Internet supposedly favoring the controversial measure.

The statement was first posted around 6 p.m. Wednesday over a Facebook account using the name “Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle Gokim Tagle, D.D., STD,” according to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

“Please be informed that Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle does not have an FB account,” said Manila archdiocese communication director Peachy Yamsuan.

“He has a fan page administered by JesCom (Jesuit Communications). (But) he has not issued any official statement on the cyber crime law,” she added in a text message to reporters.

The username of the archbishop’s official Facebook fan page is “Bishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle” and can be accessed through www.facebook.com/ArchbishopTagle.

Tagle’s official statements are also posted at the Manila archdiocese’s website, www.rcam.org.

The anti-cybercrime law has been the subject of criticisms for including libel as among punishable crimes and other provisions perceived to be tantamount to prior restraint.

Petitioners of the measure including various human rights and media groups warned of the threat to freedom of expression the new law poses.