Mayor backs anti-cybercrime law

DESPITE the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order issued over the cybercrime law, a local official believes the law should be implemented as it was already signed by President Benigno Aquino III.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan told reporters Monday that although he is not privy to the contents of the law, he insists people should also be responsible Internet users.

“We are given the freedom to express through messages using the technology but we should not forget our responsibility not to take advantage of the technology to malign and maliciously destroy the reputation and image of a person,” Domogan said.

“I have been a victim of these acts of ridicule and malicious attacks over the internet like Facebook even during previous elections,” he said, adding these attacks over the Internet have been becoming personal and below the belt.

The mayor said he doesn’t know what others are protesting against the law, claiming there might be provisions in the law that need further review and study.

He said under the Revised Penal Code, where some provisions of the law are based, it clearly stated that no person could malign another person.

“I’m sure that in the coming 2013 elections, even as early as now, maglalabasan na sa internet and paninira sa akin at sa aking mga kalaban,” he said.

Personally and for his party, he said, they will not participate in continuous character assassinations being floated over the Internet by those who oppose his administration.

He also said that with the cybercrime law, the government will now know what to do with those maligning individuals including other crimes committed through the Internet.

“If they don’t commit any mistake they will not fear anything because they have merely good intentions while those who are wrongly accused can defend themselves in court,” he said.

He said with malicious articles and false information over the Internet, victims of cybercrimes can protect their own reputation.

He also said that the law will help maintain peace and order as they have been debating during his three-term stint in congress, that while he is supportive of the Freedom of Information Act, he is also supportive of the Right to Reply Bill.

“Data show that many are taking things into their own hands and there are members of the tri-media who are killed because there is no opportunity for some individuals to express their responses to accusations floated against them in media,” he said.

“We should always use the technology for the good of everyone and not as a means to malign or destroy the reputation of people even if this information is not true,” he said.