Antipolo City Rep. Ronaldo Puno said an ethics complaint can be filed against Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez for accusing journalists of getting paid.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines earlier criticized Gomez regarding a social media post iwherein he scored media men asking for his comment on a flood control structure in Matag-ob, Leyte that reportedly collapsed.
In another development, BICOL Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said the damaged flood control project in Leyte may be part of an investigation by the House Committee on Infrastructure.
In his post, Gomez’s included the journalists’ names and cellphone numbers, after he was asked to comment on allegations of flood control projects in his district being substandard.
“Absolutely, I encourage you to bring it before the Ethics Committee here. These things must not continue. I mean, you are asked to explain something, you’re a legislator, you explain,” Puno said.
Citing similarities in the questions and interview requests , Gomez claimed that someone was orchestrating the simple fact of media trying to get his side.
The film actor-turned legislator alleged that the media were being paid to get his comment as fairness would dictate.
Apart from the allegations that colleagues were paid as part of supposed media spin, Gomez posted screenshots with media workers’ names and numbers, a potential violation of data privacy and an action that puts them at risk of harassment and fraud.
The Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) is a Philippine law that protects individuals’ personal information by regulating its collection, processing, and storage in information and communications systems.
“We remind Gomez that media asking for his side on the matter actually favors him,” the NUJP stated.
“The requests give him a chance to address allegations made by Matag-ob Mayor Bernie Tacoy, who has also criticized him for alleged lack of support during heavy flooding, and making them is part of journalists’ jobs,” the group added.
“If Gomez preferred to not speak about the issue, a simple ‘no comment’ or lack of response would have sent that message without imputing malice or exposing our colleagues’ private information,” the NUJP asserted.
“Despite the recent introspection within the media community regarding the conduct of some of its members, claiming media bias and spin to evade answering questions will only have limited effectiveness,” it stated.
“We can include that, particularly if there was a collapse that happened in the project and within the expectation that these project could last long,” Ridon told GMA News.
Matag-ob, Leyte Mayor Bernie Tacoy, in a social media post, linked Gomez to the to the flood control project that collapsed on Aug. 25..
Ridon said they may conduct a probe of the issue after receiving a report from the Department of Public Works and Highways.
