Duterte hits removal of FB pages vs insurgency

File Photo
File Photo

(UPDATED) President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, September 28, 2020, expressed dismay over the removal of Facebook pages advocating against insurgency and terrorism.

“Facebook, listen to me. We allow you to operate here hoping that you could help us also. Now, if government cannot espouse or advocate something which is for the good of the people, then what is your purpose here in my country?” Duterte said in his weekly televised meeting with some Cabinet members.

“Hindi na puwede na... You cannot lay down a policy for my government. I allow you to operate here. You cannot bar or prevent me from espousing the objectives of government,” he added.

The President’s tirade came about a week after Facebook removed 57 Facebook accounts, 31 pages and 20 Instagram accounts, including those linked to the Philippine police and military for alleged “coordinated inauthentic behavior.”

Among those taken down were the personal Facebook accounts of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) social media center personnel including its head Captain Alexandre Cabales.

Facebook also removed the Hands Off Our Children (HOOC) page, where Cabales served as an administrator.

The said page was created by parents whose children went missing and later traced to have joined the communist New People’s Army.

Duterte said Facebook seemed to favor the anti-government groups.

“Tapos iyong left, ini-encourage kayo, then you believe in the left and to the point of almost make a sweeping move to iyong sa health — website ng health, military, we are fighting a war,” he said.

“You know, Facebook, insurgency is about overturning government... What would be the point of allowing you to continue if you cannot help us? We are not advocating mass destruction, we are not advocating mass massacre. It’s a fight of ideas. And apparently from the drift of your statement or your position is that it cannot be used as a platform for any... It is so convoluted. I cannot understand it,” he added.

The President said he wants to sit down with Facebook executives to discuss the matter.

In a meeting with Facebook officials earlier, AFP Chief of Staff Gilbert Gapay urged the social media network to restore the said pages and accounts.

The military was elated by Duterte’s expression of support for its campaign against insurgency and terrorism.

“We are thankful to the Commander-in-Chief’s expression of support to the AFP’s campaign that, after all, may well be every Filipinos’ war against the communist terrorist group NPA - to include affiliated underground mass organizations - that have caused the misery of our people for more than 50 years,” AFP spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo said in a statement.

“The AFP views Facebook and other socmed outfits as platforms to disseminate accurate information that would empower our people to see through the lies and reject terrorist organizations masquerading as pro-people. FB could be the medium that will help consolidate peoples’ support to their armed forces as their true protectors and defenders of the state against its enemies,” he added.

Arevalo also reiterated their appeal to Facebook to look into the contents of the HOOC and the other accounts and pages that were taken down. (SunStar Philippines)

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