Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 25) — A senator believes Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson should "draw the line" between her blog and official work.
"It would be weird for me to say na stop blogging. It would not be right for her to blog about something na affected yung work niya [that affects her work]. You have to draw the line," Senator Joel Villanueva, author of the anti-fake news bill, told CNN Philippines' The Source on Wednesday.
"What I'm saying is, you can still be a blogger, but do not cross the line. If you can't tell that line, then you have to decide to give it up," he added.
Villanueva said Uson can blog, for example, about lifestyle subjects or topics that do not conflict with her work. He said it could also be okay to report on what the President is doing, as long as she did not "add spice" to his statements.
"The moment you add spice, like galit si presidente sa isang tao, dinagdagan mo — minura mo, et cetera, hindi na yun [if the President is angry at someone and you add onto it — you curse him, et cetera, that's out of line]," said Villanueva.
His statement echoes that of his colleague Senator Nancy Binay, who urged her to choose between being a blogger or an assistant secretary during a Senate probe on fake news in early October.
Related: Senators urge Mocha Uson: Use your power wisely
Uson's controversial social media blog has been accused of peddling false and misleading information. She also went head to head with administration critic Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, posting unverified proof of his alleged offshore bank accounts.
Villanueva is pushing for Senate Bill 1492, or the proposed Anti-Fake News Act of 2017, which lays down penalties for the malicious spreading of false information. He is also a member of the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, chaired by Sen. Grace Poe.
Villanueva expressed admiration for Poe's "patience." He said he was disappointed at the turnout of the Senate probe. Some netizens said the hearing became a platform for pro-administration bloggers, such as Thinking Pinoy blogger RJ Nieto, to peddle more fake news.
"I was a little bit disappointed with the fact that the hearing went to that direction, put so much weight on the ideas of the bloggers -- yung mainstream, hindi masyadong binigyan ng weight [input from mainstream media didn't get much weight], and the legal experts. In the next hearing, I would suggest we dwell more on that," said Villanueva.
He added blogging was a "gray area" that legislators had to look into when examining measures for accountability.
Villanueva's proposal falls short of providing an exact definition for fake news. The senator said this was because the law should "give the court the leeway to realize if this is indeed fake or not."
Instead, the bill lists four elements for fake news:
Under the bill, all elements have to be proven in court before a person is held liable for spreading false information. Violators will face a fine of up to P5 million, and imprisonment of up to 5 years.
Villanueva said he is open to suggestions on improving the bill.
Source: Senator: Mocha Uson has to draw the line on blogging
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