A former combatant warrior of the Philippine Army, retired Army Major Abe Purugganan wrote and Open Letter to Facebook with some of his closest friends calling the attentions of Facebook after they approved Rappler and Vera Files as two of the Philippines fact-checker groups.
In the viral Open Letter to Facebook, Sir Abe Purugganan stated that as Filipinos "who are active participants in the national affairs of our country using Facebook as our platform. We thank you for making Facebook."
With the help of Facebook, our countrymen according to Sir Abe that Thru Facebook our countrymen have become more aware of the true situation of our nation, which have been denied to them before the advent of social media. Facebook has helped us bring about issues of national interest and expressed our sentiments on these matters freely and boldly.
However, recent development has forced us to write you this letter to raise our concern on certain issues in your fact-checking program in our country which we believe have serious implications for our right to free speech.
According to Sir Abe, Filipinos are now concerned with the decision of Facebook to partner with Rappler and Vera Files.
Here's the Complete Open Letter of Abe Purugganan to Facebook for Rappler & Vera Files Roles on Facebook
April 13, 2018
Dear Mr. Mark Zuckerberg,
We are Filipinos who are active participants in the national affairs of our country using Facebook as our platform. We thank you for making Facebook. Thru Facebook our countrymen have become more aware of the true situation of our nation, which have been denied to them before the advent of social media. Facebook has helped us bring about issues of national interest and expressed our sentiments on these matters freely and boldly. However, recent development has forced us to write you this letter to raise our concern on certain issues in your fact-checking program in our country which we believe have serious implications for our right to free speech.
We believe that there has been a mistake in allowing Rappler and Vera Files to be partners of Facebook’s third-party fact-checking program in the Philippines. These two have no credibility in our country. Aside from being accused by our people as purveyors of lies and propaganda machines for the political opposition, these two have been suspected of being tools to destabilize our government.
As for Rappler, it is presently an illegal entity. Its license to do business has been revoked last January 11, 2018, by our Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) for violating its rules. Rappler was found engaging in a fraudulent transaction and deceptive scheme to hide the nature of its funds from foreign funders which circumvented constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership. Please be informed that our constitution prohibits foreign ownership in media institutions. This illegal act does not also live up to the code of principles set by the International Fact-Checking Network in terms of transparency in funding sources.
We understand Rappler became a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network last October 2017 on the pretext of having already complied with the criteria set by the Poynter Institute where the International Fact-Checking Network belongs. However, with the discovery of its illegal act, Rappler has not only complied with the criteria but they did it in bad faith. And with revocation of its license, Rappler has no more legal personality of transacting business with Poynter Institute where the International Fact-Checking Network belongs, and so with Facebook.
Poynter Institute should have been more careful in vetting out Rappler. We do not discount that Rappler was sponsored by Omidyar Network making it easy for Rappler to be qualified. Omidyar Network is the same organization that funded Rappler, which by the way was the reason why their license was revoked. We understand the Fact-Checking Network was also funded by Omidyar Network thru Poynter Institute.
With this information, prudence and reputational risk management dictate that any transaction with these two should be terminated immediately. Poynter Institute should also delist them from the signatories of the International Fact-Checking Network.
We pray that this mistake is corrected immediately as it may cause further confusion and erosion on the credibility of our media with Facebook being used as an unwitting tool by our political opposition to deceive our people, to suppress freedom of speech in our country, and to destabilize our government.
We appreciate your commitment to the US Congress last April 11, 2018, to make sure that Facebook will not be biased in the work they do. We pray that Facebook will live up to this commitment.
Respectfully,
Abe Purugganan
Benedict Exconde
Vivian Velez
Evelyn Casas
Nette Venus
Razel Biantan
Joe Chan Dimaculangan
Victor Figueroa David
Paulino Jose Misa
Ma Theresa Rios Frigillano
Dondon Abadies
Jqylee Tindoy
Daniel T Del Rosario
Lloyd Patrick Basic
Nelson Tingzon
Segundo Jr Metran
Lorna Candawan
Butch Atienza Colasito Mdg
Bhabes Remedio
Kerwin Carmona Dellomas
Ariel Leron
Ising Carbonel
Ed Dazo
Absalon Tacastacas Carreon
Sonita G Carreon
Galug Mel
Rita Bonifacio
Faye Celeste
Ariel Angcaco Albacete
Rodel Molina
Luz Marcos Molina
Silverio Edirene
Alfred Guevarra
Arnel Dolot
Gerardo Patacsil
Victorio Panaligan
Ricardo Villares
Efren Reyes
Vinia Guevara
Alex Dumandan
Allan Holganza Serino
Al-luis A Remoquillo
George Leiza Bravo
Eiron Del Monte Buyucan
Rodrigo Basa
Greggy Valeña
Leonard Limpangog Monterde
Angelito Narvasa
Muriel Perez
Javes Bitoy Ariate
Roselyn Oman Pantallano
Eddie Tejano Antonio In sir.......
Sapphire Haven •
Cez Tamba
Gil David
Joseph Nolan Daantos Pasamonte
Braulio Patiag Estabillo
Marc Marzn
Welkie Delgado
Rose Villegas
Michael Panelo
Nest Reyes
Fred Sampan
Weng Shrum
Peter F Mutuc
Lenbe Velmonte
Noli Acosta
Leroy Bogs Bermudez
Nollie Calising
Tomas Decena Essa Abdulmalik
Valdem Bing
Kunit Nanagurup I am in
Robert Rambo Rio
Badet Legaspi
Cristeta Baguin
Carl De Asis Dioleste
Romy Garcia
Choy Solinap
Apyang Rebuyas
Beth Aguilar Gemoto
Dionie Antona Duquez
Jason Sagala-Gaviola Ballon-Rama
Isir Seguerra Eduarte
Jake Perez Count me in.
Nicky Asuncion Oller
Sam V Rage
Jojo Bumanlag
Emer Aviles
Arthur Tilbe Galero
Stanley Rabaria
Pat Banglot-Glovasa
Nida Iturralde Paguio
Rona Polopolo
Rey Tobias
Bing Ganaban
Adelancer Jhuan Oscar
Joven Radam
Imelda Daya Tambis Costillas
Jose Maala
Vince Lapu-Lapu
Margie Peil
Jack Ryan
Wilhelm Cocjin
Arman C. Gavino
Dionie Antona Duquez
Rakhan Alex
Happy Aluzan
Sol Nolasco
cc:
Ms.Clair Deevy, Facebook Director forCommunity Affairs for Asia Pacific
Mr. Martin Andanar, Secretary of Presidential Communication Operations Office
Mr. Eliseo Rio Jr, Secretary of Department of Information & Communication Technology
Ms. Teresita Herbosa, Chairperson of Security and Exchange Commission
Source: Sir Abe Purugganan FB Page
In the viral Open Letter to Facebook, Sir Abe Purugganan stated that as Filipinos "who are active participants in the national affairs of our country using Facebook as our platform. We thank you for making Facebook."
With the help of Facebook, our countrymen according to Sir Abe that Thru Facebook our countrymen have become more aware of the true situation of our nation, which have been denied to them before the advent of social media. Facebook has helped us bring about issues of national interest and expressed our sentiments on these matters freely and boldly.
However, recent development has forced us to write you this letter to raise our concern on certain issues in your fact-checking program in our country which we believe have serious implications for our right to free speech.
According to Sir Abe, Filipinos are now concerned with the decision of Facebook to partner with Rappler and Vera Files.
Here's the Complete Open Letter of Abe Purugganan to Facebook for Rappler & Vera Files Roles on Facebook
April 13, 2018
Dear Mr. Mark Zuckerberg,
We are Filipinos who are active participants in the national affairs of our country using Facebook as our platform. We thank you for making Facebook. Thru Facebook our countrymen have become more aware of the true situation of our nation, which have been denied to them before the advent of social media. Facebook has helped us bring about issues of national interest and expressed our sentiments on these matters freely and boldly. However, recent development has forced us to write you this letter to raise our concern on certain issues in your fact-checking program in our country which we believe have serious implications for our right to free speech.
We believe that there has been a mistake in allowing Rappler and Vera Files to be partners of Facebook’s third-party fact-checking program in the Philippines. These two have no credibility in our country. Aside from being accused by our people as purveyors of lies and propaganda machines for the political opposition, these two have been suspected of being tools to destabilize our government.
As for Rappler, it is presently an illegal entity. Its license to do business has been revoked last January 11, 2018, by our Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) for violating its rules. Rappler was found engaging in a fraudulent transaction and deceptive scheme to hide the nature of its funds from foreign funders which circumvented constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership. Please be informed that our constitution prohibits foreign ownership in media institutions. This illegal act does not also live up to the code of principles set by the International Fact-Checking Network in terms of transparency in funding sources.
We understand Rappler became a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network last October 2017 on the pretext of having already complied with the criteria set by the Poynter Institute where the International Fact-Checking Network belongs. However, with the discovery of its illegal act, Rappler has not only complied with the criteria but they did it in bad faith. And with revocation of its license, Rappler has no more legal personality of transacting business with Poynter Institute where the International Fact-Checking Network belongs, and so with Facebook.
Poynter Institute should have been more careful in vetting out Rappler. We do not discount that Rappler was sponsored by Omidyar Network making it easy for Rappler to be qualified. Omidyar Network is the same organization that funded Rappler, which by the way was the reason why their license was revoked. We understand the Fact-Checking Network was also funded by Omidyar Network thru Poynter Institute.
With this information, prudence and reputational risk management dictate that any transaction with these two should be terminated immediately. Poynter Institute should also delist them from the signatories of the International Fact-Checking Network.
We pray that this mistake is corrected immediately as it may cause further confusion and erosion on the credibility of our media with Facebook being used as an unwitting tool by our political opposition to deceive our people, to suppress freedom of speech in our country, and to destabilize our government.
We appreciate your commitment to the US Congress last April 11, 2018, to make sure that Facebook will not be biased in the work they do. We pray that Facebook will live up to this commitment.
Respectfully,
Abe Purugganan
Benedict Exconde
Vivian Velez
Evelyn Casas
Nette Venus
Razel Biantan
Joe Chan Dimaculangan
Victor Figueroa David
Paulino Jose Misa
Ma Theresa Rios Frigillano
Dondon Abadies
Jqylee Tindoy
Daniel T Del Rosario
Lloyd Patrick Basic
Nelson Tingzon
Segundo Jr Metran
Lorna Candawan
Butch Atienza Colasito Mdg
Bhabes Remedio
Kerwin Carmona Dellomas
Ariel Leron
Ising Carbonel
Ed Dazo
Absalon Tacastacas Carreon
Sonita G Carreon
Galug Mel
Rita Bonifacio
Faye Celeste
Ariel Angcaco Albacete
Rodel Molina
Luz Marcos Molina
Silverio Edirene
Alfred Guevarra
Arnel Dolot
Gerardo Patacsil
Victorio Panaligan
Ricardo Villares
Efren Reyes
Vinia Guevara
Alex Dumandan
Allan Holganza Serino
Al-luis A Remoquillo
George Leiza Bravo
Eiron Del Monte Buyucan
Rodrigo Basa
Greggy Valeña
Leonard Limpangog Monterde
Angelito Narvasa
Muriel Perez
Javes Bitoy Ariate
Roselyn Oman Pantallano
Eddie Tejano Antonio In sir.......
Sapphire Haven •
Cez Tamba
Gil David
Joseph Nolan Daantos Pasamonte
Braulio Patiag Estabillo
Marc Marzn
Welkie Delgado
Rose Villegas
Michael Panelo
Nest Reyes
Fred Sampan
Weng Shrum
Peter F Mutuc
Lenbe Velmonte
Noli Acosta
Leroy Bogs Bermudez
Nollie Calising
Tomas Decena Essa Abdulmalik
Valdem Bing
Kunit Nanagurup I am in
Robert Rambo Rio
Badet Legaspi
Cristeta Baguin
Carl De Asis Dioleste
Romy Garcia
Choy Solinap
Apyang Rebuyas
Beth Aguilar Gemoto
Dionie Antona Duquez
Jason Sagala-Gaviola Ballon-Rama
Isir Seguerra Eduarte
Jake Perez Count me in.
Nicky Asuncion Oller
Sam V Rage
Jojo Bumanlag
Emer Aviles
Arthur Tilbe Galero
Stanley Rabaria
Pat Banglot-Glovasa
Nida Iturralde Paguio
Rona Polopolo
Rey Tobias
Bing Ganaban
Adelancer Jhuan Oscar
Joven Radam
Imelda Daya Tambis Costillas
Jose Maala
Vince Lapu-Lapu
Margie Peil
Jack Ryan
Wilhelm Cocjin
Arman C. Gavino
Dionie Antona Duquez
Rakhan Alex
Happy Aluzan
Sol Nolasco
cc:
Ms.Clair Deevy, Facebook Director forCommunity Affairs for Asia Pacific
Mr. Martin Andanar, Secretary of Presidential Communication Operations Office
Mr. Eliseo Rio Jr, Secretary of Department of Information & Communication Technology
Ms. Teresita Herbosa, Chairperson of Security and Exchange Commission
Source: Sir Abe Purugganan FB Page
Ex-Army's Open Letter to Facebook Due to Rappler & Vera Files Fact-Checking Role
Reviewed by Phil Newsome
on
April 15, 2018
Rating:
Reviewed by Phil Newsome
on
April 15, 2018
Rating:
