Customs project manager confronts PDI reporter over Twitter post
Customs consultant Atty Althea Acas wails after Deputy Speaker Sharon Garin chews her out for “shouting” at consultation @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/3qvpRKq8oE
— Vince F. Nonato (@VinceNonatoINQ) August 9, 2017
A project manager in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) confronted a Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) reporter Wednesday for tweeting that she “wailed” during a House of Representatives hearing on the smuggled shabu shipment at the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
During the ways and means committee hearing, officials of the BOC got a dressing down from Deputy Speaker Sharon Garin, who questioned their qualifications because of their lack of experience in the customs bureau.
Atty. Althea Acas, who works as project manager for the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), said it hurts her to hear about the deputy speaker’s disappointment when she had been working hard for the IRR of the CMTA.
The CMTA was passed by Congress and signed into law in 2016.
“Kaya nasasaktan ako pag nadisappoint si Cong Garin sa akin, kasi she’s deputy speaker. And I don’t want to disappoint her. And I’m working hard, Ma’am, for the CMTA,” Acas said, crying, wiping away her tears.
Article continues after this advertisementReporters, including PDI’s Vince Nonato, tweeted the emotional exchange.
Article continues after this advertisementWhen Acas’ daughter saw the tweet, Acas then directed her ire at the Inquirer reporter, who tweeted that she “wailed” during the committee hearing in her emotional message.
“Salamat ha, nakita ng anak ko,” Acas told the Inquirer reporter, questioning the “news value” of her emotional outburst.
On Twitter, Acas also fought back against the tweets reporting that she cried during the hearing.
She used the hashtag #stoptheharassment.
Acas traded barbs on Twitter with Radyo Inquirer reporter Erwin Aguilon and DZBB reporter Rowena Salvacion.
“Hindi ko po sinita tinanong ko kung newsworthy dahil shabu ang topic. Sabi ko okay salamat. #stoptheharassment #dontsensationalize,” Acas responded to Salvacion’s tweet reporting that Acas confronted the Inquirer reporter.
“Hindi lahat ng nakikita news worthy. Gusto lang ata mamahiya. #stoptheharassment,” she also responded to Aguilon’s tweet.
She also took offense of the Inquirer reporter’s tweet saying that she “wailed.”
“Also the description was ‘wail.’ Wail means a prolonged high-pitched cry of pain, grief, or anger. I cried in frustration, it was not a wail,” Acas said.
“Thank you for your exaggerated description of events, sir. This is not newsworthy because it doesn’t refer to the shabu,” Acas said.
The lower House is investigating the smuggling of P6.4-billion worth of shabu from China through the BOC’s green lane.
