Filtered By: Topstories
News

Aquino approves draft of govt social media guidelines


President Benigno Aquino III has approved the draft guidelines that all government officials and employees in the executive branch must observe in using social media networks like Twitter and Facebook, one of his spokespersons said on Tuesday. The guidelines, however, will not be released and implemented this week as discussions and consultations are still ongoing regarding its legality, according to deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte. “Kailangan may konsultahin lang na ibang mga ahensya on how to properly go about it, pero meron na pong approved na guidelines on the social networking policy that is to be implemented," Valte told reporters in an interview. (We just need to consult with other agencies on how to properly go about it, but there are already approved guidelines on the social networking policy that is to be implemented.) Valte couldn’t say when the guidelines, which she said were based on the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, would be released. She said the legal aspect of the guidelines is still being studied because they might have an effect on the Constitutionally-enshrined freedom of expression. Controversial tweets The guidelines were crafted after Mai Mislang, Aquino’s speechwriter, found herself in the center of controversy because of her tweets when she was in Vietnam as part of the official Philippine delegation there last month. While in Vietnam, Mislang reportedly tweeted that the “wine sucks" at the state banquet, that “crossing the speedy motorcycle-laden streets of Hanoi is one of the easiest ways to die," and “Sorry pero walang pogi dito #vietnam (Sorry, there are no handsome men here in #vietnam)." Valte said the guidelines will apply not just to the Palace communications group but also to all government employees in the executive branch, noting that whatever government officials or employees say online may be reflective of the government. “Hindi lang naman po yung [communications group] ang merong Twitter at Facebook. And certainly hindi rin naman po naga-apply lamang sa mga officials, kasi ang tatandaaan po natin lahat po ng empleyado ng pamahalaan, you represent the government," she said. (Members of the communications group are not the only ones who are on Twitter and Facebook. And certainly the guidelines don't just apply to officials, because we must remember that all government employees represent the government.) “That (guidelines) will be applicable to all departments, all agencies, all bureaus of the government in the executive," she added. Freedom of expression Valte assured the public that the guidelines won’t ban government officials and employees from saying anything negative about the government. “Wala naman po akong nakitang ganun, kasi ang nakita ko lang po kasi doon sa guidelines yung more or less it’s firming up the directives in the Code of Conduct for Public Officials," she said, adding that the guidelines were about “what is acceptable to be said." (I didn’t see anything like that, all I saw were that the guidelines more or less it's firming up the Code of Conduct for Public Officials.) Valte said the guidelines do not include penalties, although future infractions “will be dealt with according to the administrative rules of the agency." While the guidelines have yet to be issued, all government employees are advised to be “cautious" in what they say online, said the Palace official. All apologies Mislang’s controversial tweets were so widely criticized that some have called for her resignation. She later posted an apology for her actions on her Facebook wall. “I apologize for my comments. If I offended anybody, please know that was never the intention. I feel extremely blessed to be in a beautiful country blessed with warm hospitable people," Mislang was quoted as saying on her Facebook page. Aquino has said he will not fire Mislang, saying he was convinced that she has realized the implications of the comments she made over Twitter. She has also taken down her Twitter account. Mislang, however, will not be part of Aquino's official delegation to Japan, where he will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit later this week. Since it took over in June, the Aquino administration has been actively using the Internet for information gathering and dissemination, with various agencies putting up new websites or Twitter and Facebook accounts. - KBK/HS, GMANews.TV

LOADING CONTENT