DFA denies Philippine embassy summoned woman over anti-Duterte post

  MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has denied claims that the Philippine Embassy in Australia asked a woman to appear before Philippine authorities over a remark on social media against Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The statement was in response to a viral Facebook post of Josef Leroi Garcia who claimed that his niece, Carmela Laxina, was summoned before Philippine authorities in Canberra. Garcia, a self-confessed anti-Duterte critic and lawyer of embattled senator Leila De Lima, called the DFA ignorant for making the alleged move, saying his niece is no longer a Filipino citizen. The DFA, in a statement, refuted Garcia’s claims: "According to our Philippine embassy in Canberra, none of the Philippine Foreign Service Posts in Australia have invited Ms. Laxina to appear before any Philippine official in Australia”. “Furthermore, its database has no information on the whereabouts of Ms. Laxina – Mr. Garcia’s niece referred to in his post whom he claimed to be 'being hunted' by the Philippine authorities," the DFA said in a statement. "The DFA wishes to remind the public to be discerning of information being presented to them especially in this time of crisis," the agency added. Garcia's niece, who he left unnamed in the viral post but identified in another post, allegedly asked via Facebook the outlawed Abu Sayyaf terrorist group to help kill Duterte. Garcia claimed his niece was attacked online for her post and "is now being hunted by no other than the PSG (Presidential Security Group) who, aided by local police and NBI (National Bureau of Investigation), have swooped down on our small town of Macabebe, Pampanga to harass our relatives and her FB friends, 20 of them to be exact." In the same expletive-laden post, Garcia also mocked Duterte’s supporters.

Anti-cybercrime efforts

Last week, a Filipino public school teacher was arrested after posting on Twitter that he is offering a P50 million bounty for Duterte's head. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) charged Ronnel Mas with inciting sedition in relation to the anti-cybercrime law. The social studies teacher at Talal National High School was also charged with violation of the Code of the Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials. In April, Philippine authorities moved to deport a Filipina caregiver who posted social media comments against Duterte. The Philippine Department of Labor and Employment said it was working to deport Elanel Egot Ordidor for cyber libel, adding that the Filipina posted “nasty and malevolent” comments against Duterte. The Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Taiwan also got in touch with the Filipina’s broker and employer to seek her deportation. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, rejected the move, saying the Philippines must first consult with it before taking any drastic action. ICA/Expat Media https://www.expatmedia.net/filipino-teacher-arrested-p50-million-bounty-offer-dutertes-death/2020/05/ https://www.expatmedia.net/taiwan-rejects-deportation-filipina-anti-duterte-comments/2020/04/
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