Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan clarified that he did not vote in favor of the controversial Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 contrary to earlier reports of INQUIRER.net.
Pangilinan was one of two senators sought for comment by INQUIRER.net on the hate campaign being waged against those who voted against the law.
“Kaming mga nasa pulitika at nasa mataas na tungkulin sa gobyerno ay tanggap na ganitong pambabatikos at pagpupuna. Kasama sa occupational hazards ang mga ganitong sitwasyon (Those in politics and holding high positions in government are used to this kind of criticism. This is part of our occupational hazards) . It comes with the territory,” Pangilinan said in a text message.
“Kung ang bumbero maaaring masunog, ang electrician maaaring makuryente, ganun din ang pulitiko, maaaring mapasabak sa matinding batikos at pagpupuna, Kasama sa trabaho namin yan at tanggap na namin ito,” he said.
(Fire fighters risk being burned, electricians may get electrocuted, and we politicians can also be subjected to harsh criticisms and scrutiny…)
“We are not in the business of pleasing everyone and our decision on issues favoring or rejecting one side will almost always displease the other side” Pangilinan added.
He did not reply when asked if he regretted voting for it.
But in a text message later after the story was posted, the senator corrected the he did not vote for the bill. He said he did not receive this reporter’s last question.
The same questions were also asked to Senator Panfilo Lacson, who voted for the bill.
“As long as they don’t resort to violations of law in expressing their hatred against those who voted for the passage of the cybercrime act, they should be treated as simply exercising their rights,” Lacson said in a separate text message.
Lacson, who was one of 13 senators who voted for the measure, did not also reply when asked if he regretted his decision.
Aside from Lacson, those who voted for the measure were: Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Senate Pro Tempore Jose Jinggoy Estrada, Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Gregorio Honasan, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr., Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Ralph Recto, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., and Manuel Villar.
Honasan stood by his decision to support the passage of the measure.
And while he respects the opinion of others, especially those opposing the law, Honasan appealed on the public to stay calm and to listen to reason.
“Ang aking apila ay maging mahinahon tayo dito (My appeal is for us to be calm). Let’s listen to reason. Huwag na basta ayaw natin, galit tayo. Bakit? Narinig na ba natin lahat ng panig? (Let’s not just say we don’t want this, we are angry. Why? Have we listened to all sides?),” he said in a television interview.
Honasan lamented that ‘unadulterated hatred” seemed to have prevailed and the attacks were getting personal at those who voted for the bill.
“Let’s not allow ourselves to be used by partisan political leaders… Let’s be reasonable, let’s reflect and pray for enlightenment so we can deal this very soberly, very peacefully and very dispassionately because all of us will be affected,” he added.