Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla, Jr. has asked Facebook Philippines to explain why government officials’ and government media outlets’ posts and shared stories were flagged and removed.
On April 26, Revilla sent a letter to John Rubio, Facebook’s Philippines Country Director, requesting any information and explanations about a series of occurrences involving the flagging and removal of posts and shared stories by government officials and government media outlets.
One of the examples is Facebook’s limitation warning against National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.’s account.
The Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media is chaired by Revilla.
“While we recognize Facebook and Meta’s ongoing efforts to combat disinformation, cyberbullying, hate speech, and terrorism, among other issues encountered on social media platforms,” Revilla wrote in the letter, “I join the concern of government agencies and mass media organizations about the effects of the abovementioned incidents on the performance of official functions and their implications in national security, sovereignty, and fundamental freedoms.”
As of this writing, Facebook has yet to respond to the letter.
