MANILA – After several weeks of marathon public hearing on the ABS-CBN’s bid for a 25-year franchise, some members of congress have complained of experiencing “cyberbullying” by “troll farms,” a digital lingo referring to a group of gnome or underworld elements who have vile intention to distort the truth and to destroy personalities and institutions for a fee.
One of these lawmakers is Cavite 7th District Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla who bared on Monday that he has complained before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over alleged “cyberbullying” against members of the House of Representatives amid hearings on media giant ABS-CBN.
He alleged that some people have employed troll farms to get to congress during the joint hearing of the house committee on legislative franchises and committee on good government and public accountability.
“I’d like to tell the committee that today, after my experience over the past 10 days or the past six days of being the subject of many organized attacks on social media, I have gone to the NBI to complain about the cyberbullying to my person and to other members of the House,” Remulla said.
Remulla is one of the lawmakers who is critical to the renewal of the franchise of the media giant after its franchise had expired on May 4, 2020. He explained that the hearings on issues lodged against ABS-CBN are only being done as it is the constitutional mandate of congress.
“I thought this wise because we are doing our job for this country, we are not doing this job for personal reason. This matter of scrutinizing a constitutional franchise, this franchise of ABS-CBN, is a constitutional duty. Ito ay aming tungkulin sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas na tingnan ang bagay na ito, (It is our task under the Constitution to look into these things), Remulla said.
Recently, the congressman from Cavite was heavily criticized by netizens in the social media after he was caught writing something on his desk while the national anthem was playing at the start of one of the hearings. Remulla already apologized for his action.
