Ready for democracy? Cayetano, Iqbal debate legality of Mamasapano video

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal on Tuesday engaged in an emotional debate on the legality of the uploading of the viral video purportedly of the Mamasapano clash between police commandos and alleged MILF rebels.

Iqbal earlier said that the person who shot the fallen policeman twice at the start of the video and the one who took the cellphone video were criminals. He also said that those who uploaded the video over the social media were similarly criminals. 

The senator clarified if the MILF peace panel chief believed that the person who uploaded the video of the alleged Mamasapano clash should be held liable under the law.

 

"I heard you say na 'yung nag-upload ng video is a criminal? What crime did he violate?" Cayetano asked.

 

"Yes, (he is a criminal for) spreading darkness," Iqbal replied. 

 

"That's not a crime. The video if it was the truth is that darkness or spreading the truth?" Cayetano said.

 

"That is creating intrigue. It is creating outrage," the MILF chief negotiator said.

 

However, the senator was not satisfied.

"Kung ang video po ay peke, crime po 'yun. Pero kung to too po 'yung duty ng citizen na i-inform lahat," Cayetano said.

 

"If you say na criminal ang nag-upload, how can you say that the MILF is ready for democracy kung tatawagin ninyong criminal ang kahit sinong mag-upload nang laban sa inyong paniniwala," he added.

 

Cayetano added that under the Philippine Constitution, the video was authorized to be uploaded under the Freedom of Speech. "Anyone can be a journalist in the internet."

 

"This is my personal belief, that kind of uploading of that weird media images was i not good," Iqbal said. "Democracy is not absolute freedom."

 

The MILF chief negotiator asked why the controversial video wasn't shown in the Senate if it was legal.

 

To which, Cayetano replied: "Marami akong napapanood sa media na ayaw ko, you are calling them criminal. Baka kung magkaroon ng BBL, baka hindi kayo sumunod sa demokrasya ng bansa? I’m just testing your commitment to democracy." —NB, GMA News