Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla
MANILA – Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said he has complained to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over cyberbullying he and other lawmakers have experienced in relation to the House hearings on the franchise of media network ABS-CBN.
During the joint hearing of the House committee on legislative franchises and committee on good government and public accountability, Remulla said scrutinizing the issues surrounding ABS-CBN’s franchise is a constitutional mandate of Congress.
Remulla, however, noted that “some people have employed troll farms” to criticize the legislative proceedings.
He said that he has been the subject of several “organized attacks” on social media over the past 10 days.
“I thought this wise because we are doing our job for this country, we are not doing this job for personal reasons. This matter of scrutinizing a constitutional franchise, this franchise of ABS-CBN, is a constitutional duty. Ito ay aming tungkulin sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas na tignan ang bagay na ito (This is our duty under the Constitution to look into this matter),” he said.
“But apparently, some people have employed troll farms to get to our organization. It goes without saying that most of us have an experience here about how these trolls are operating now,” he added.
Remulla also asked the House committees to initiate contempt proceedings against some witnesses and resource persons from the network, citing “deception” during the past hearings.
“Sa madaling salita, yung mga nagsisinungaling sa ating committee, alam natin dapat parusahan ng contempt. Kasi lagi natin pinapaalala sa kanila na magsasabi ng buong katotohanan (In other words, those who are lying before the committee should be punished for contempt. We have always been reminding them to tell nothing but the truth),” he said.
“Sana maimbestigahan natin ito sapagkat masama itong ehemplo kung ito ay palalampasin lang natin basta-basta (I hope that we could investigate this because this would be a bad example if we let this be),” he added.
Remulla has been criticized on social media for disrespecting the Philippine flag after he was caught on video writing a note while the Philippine national anthem was being played during one of the ABS-CBN franchise hearings. (PNA)
