Lorenzana to new AFP chief: Less talk, fewer mistakes

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana gave newly installed military chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay a simple advice: “Less talk, less mistakes.”

Gapay drew lots of flak last week when he suggested that social media use be regulated in the implementing rules and regulations of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

Lorenzana said, “I asked him (Gapay) what he meant and he said he wasn’t able to fully explain.”

“I’m not apologizing for him but this is how he explained it to me, he said he was talking about the dark net,” referring to the dark web where sale of illegal drugs and weapons happen,” he said.

“How can you regulate something that is underground and is not actually legitimate?” he then told Gapay.

Lorenzana pointed out that Gapay later explained that what he would want regulated was the platform and not the users.

He advised Gapay to be “very discerning about his acts, his answers.” “Less talk, less mistakes,” Lorenzana quipped.

—Jeannette I. Andrade