VARIOUS groups have condemned the latest online harassment perpetrated against Cagayan de Oro journalists.
In a November 4 statement by the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC), it said that the COPC is deeply concerned by the doxxing incident done by a fictitious Facebook account against its club members Menzie Montes and Vice President for Print Cong Corrales.
Doxxing is a practice where anonymous groups or individuals, post documents of victims that contain private, personal, and sensitive information to the public via online platforms such as social media.
In the Philippines, doxxing is a violation of Republic Act (RA) 10173, otherwise known as the Data Privacy Act; and also RA 10175, or Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Incidentally, the documents exposed by said dubious account were information sheets from the City Housing And Urban Development Department (Chudd) of Cagayan de Oro.
“We urge Chudd and the City Hall under the leadership of Mayor Rolando Uy to cooperate with us in identifying this Facebook user so that charges will be filed,” the COPC demanded.
The act of doxxing against Corrales and Montes, the COPC said “has put an impression that once members of the independent press avail government programs, they are no longer allowed to be critical watchdogs to checks and balances ― which should never become a culture nor a practice.”
Philippine Press Institute Executive Director Ariel Sebellino also issued a statement supporting the COPC statement on the doxxing incidents against local journalists.
“Like red-tagging, doxxing can put the lives of ‘exposed’ individuals and their families at risk. This is (a) clear violation of the Data Privacy Act,” he said.
Sebellino said that PPI always takes the side of press freedom and the safety of journalists.
In its statement on November 4, the Movement Against Disinformation (MAD) also urged the Cagayan de Oro government, including the Chudd to take “swift action to ensure that such malicious practices are deterred in the future and those enabling them are made accountable under the law.”
Incidentally, MAD is the group of lawyers that are representing Corrales in a data privacy suit against Facebook owner, Meta, that he filed before the National Privacy Commission in May, this year.
“It is imperative that we create a conducive environment where journalists and members of the press can exercise their crucial role as watchdogs without fear of harassment or intimidation,” the MAD statement reads in part.
To this, the political spokesperson of Mayor Rolando Uy issued a statement last Saturday about the City Hall’s prompt act on the matter.
On leaked Chudd documents, among other matters, Uy’s mouthpiece BenCyrus G. Ellorin said the city government is investigating the incidents concerning the privacy of “Ms. Menzie Montes and Mr. Cong Coralles.”
“They can file formal complaints with the City Legal Office. The city government started an internal probe on this issue last Friday,” Ellorin said, insisting the mayor will always uphold his administration’s transparency and encourage the free press to cover City Hall affairs.
For his part, Corrales said he could not affirm the veracity of Ellorin’s statement on the incident.
“Kay wrong spelling man gud akong apelyido sa iyang statement. I really doubt kon sa iya ba gyod naggikan ang maong tubag sa City Hall,” Corrales said of his former co-media worker-turned city hall consultant.
