Lacson bares being bashed online from gov't-linked accounts amid red-tagging probe | ABS-CBN

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Lacson bares being bashed online from gov't-linked accounts amid red-tagging probe

Lacson bares being bashed online from gov't-linked accounts amid red-tagging probe

Sherrie Ann Torres,

ABS-CBN News

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Sen. Panfilo Lacson delivers a manifestation in plenary on March 23, 2020. Henzberg Austria, Senate PRIB/file

MANILA - Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday disclosed being subjected to social media bashing, following his decision to conduct a series of hearings on security agencies’ alleged red tagging or red baiting activities against government critics.

Lacson, chair of the Senate Committee on National Defense, said the bashing has been traced to accounts linked to the government.

"In fact, as we speak, I’m still being bashed in social media by netizens and bloggers that we have traced to the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and Malacañang for 'siding with the Makabayan bloc' during the hearings," Lacson told reporters in a text message.

Despite getting whipped by a group of netizens, Lacson remains unaffected by all the social media attacks.

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"All I can say is, I’ve stayed long enough in public service to accept and understand that it is impossible to please everybody and that criticisms come with the territory," Lacson, a former police chief, said.

Lacson also responded to Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate’s clarification that the Makabayan bloc’s "witch hunting" allegation was addressed to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and not his committee.

"I appreciate that Cong. Zarate took time to qualify his statement," he said.

"That said, my interpretation of... 'the Senate hearing HAS BEEN REDUCED to a venue for witch hunting' as directly quoted by the media from his letter dated November 30, 2020 to the committee is one of a conclusion in unfairly misjudging the conduct of our hearings which I maintain to be fair to all parties," he said.

Lacson earlier expressed his intent to recommend criminalizing red tagging, which incidentally, is being opposed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Lacson has yet to reply to queries as for his target date on the committee report submission.

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Carpio warns public against voting for ‘pro-China’ candidates

Carpio warns public against voting for ‘pro-China’ candidates

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

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MANILA – Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has urged the public to be wary in voting for “pro-China” candidates in this year’s elections, saying these candidates would rather push for the Beijing's interests if elected into office. 

Carpio, without naming persons, said that these candidates have China’s financial backing. 

China, he said, might also be fueling disinformation online to further divide the public. 

“This election is not purely about internal politics, about internal matters, because there is a country that wants to grab our maritime zones and island territories. So, we should be careful not to vote for Manchurian candidates, candidates who will do China's bidding,” Carpio said in a statement released by Stratbase ADR Institute. 

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“They can come out with their own social media campaign,” the former SC magistrate said. 

“As we have seen in the past, recent past, that there have been candidates, who, when they won, were favoring China against our national interest,” he added

Carpio also said the West Philippine Sea could be at stake if pro-China candidates would win in this year’s polls. 

“Those who are pro-China, they [China] can give campaign funds to. That's usually what other countries do if they want to destabilize a certain state. I expect China to do that... Once elected, they will say, the Philippines has no right to name the West Philippine Sea as West Philippine Sea,” according to Carpio. 

For his part, Dindo Manhit, president of the Stratbase ADR Institute, cautioned voters from patronizing candidates who downplay the 2016 The Hague ruling on the West Philippine Sea. 

“Upholding our arbitral victory is not just a matter of policy but a fundamental duty of any leader who claims to serve the nation. Ignoring it means turning a blind eye to our territorial integrity,” said Manhit. 

“Vote for leaders who are patriotic and will fight for the Philippines. A true leader must stand firm in defending what is rightfully ours and not succumb to foreign pressure. The West Philippine Sea is a vital part of our national identity, economy, and security,” he said. 

Sought for comment on the issue, the Chinese Embassy said Philippine elections are an internal matter. 

Chinese vessels have engaged in a series of high-profile confrontations with Philippine ships in disputed waters of the South China Sea claimed by Beijing despite an international ruling that their assertion has no legal basis.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in kicking off the campaign season, had brought up the West Philippine Sea to differentiate the administration slate from other candidates.

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