Let me Inform You

The typhoon Pedring recently entered the Philippine area of responsibility bringing nonstop rains and ballistic winds. Classes were suspended, electricity gone out and then returned again in the afternoon, everyone was on Facebook posting statuses either about their impending thesis day, the floods, damages the typhoon brought, and the favorite resource person when it comes to getting your car stuck in the floods, your one and only, Christopher Lao.

In this time when some of our kababayans are stranded, standing in the gutters waiting for some miracle to help them, or some street children are about to drown in the flood, couldn’t the people think more than Christopher Lao’s mishap? I mean, can’t we get over that one biased report by 24 Oras?  If I were him, I would sue the station for showing a clip of me in my most irate time. Media has the power to sensationalize and curb the reactions of the people they must therefore use that power responsibly. In this case, I think the reporter who fell short in Journalism ethics is one person to blame. 

Lao

Well, let me inform you that there is such a thing that we call “Cyber-bullying”. Here’s my improved version of Bill Belsey’s definition: It is the use of internet, especially the social media, to harm other people’s reputation, in a deliberate, repeated, and hostile manner.

Sadly, we do not yet have specific legislations on cyberbullying in our country. All we have against it is the Article II Section 5 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which states that, “the maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all people of the blessings of democracy.”  It is through this where the state recognizes that the general welfare of the people are affected by such morally injurious acts.

In 2009, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile filed Senate Bill No. 3177 with the tile of An Act Defining Cybercrime, providing for the prevention, suppression and imposition of penalties and for other purposes. Unfortunately, this bill speaks little of cyber-bullying as it focuses more on the graver instances of cybercrime. Even cyber-bullying goes without formal legislation, we have to be cautious of our limits in posting, taking a responsible and mature opinion, and refrain overreacting with our comments.

You have been informed.

Photo form glogster.com