Basher apologizes to Bayan leader for false claim

A netizen who made a fake claim against Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) secretary general Renato Reyes reached out and apologized to the activist leader on Thursday.

"I talked to one of my bashers who apologized for the false claims that she made. She cried while saying sorry for what she did," Reyes told GMA News Online. "Sila humingi ng usap."

In a video posted by Reyes on his Facebook account, Khesia Fornea Bordios admitted that her allegation against Reyes was false.

"I would like to apologize to Sir Nato talaga... Inaamin ko po na nagkasala ako," a teary-eyed Bordios said in the video.

"I was the one ho na nag-proclaim na classmate ko si Sir. So mga kabataan, lahat po ng sinabi kong comment, lahat po 'yun walang katotohanan. Lahat po 'yun ay dala ng kalikutan ng isip ng isang kabataan," she added.

Bordios was referring to this comment she left on Facebook: "Classmate ko to noong highschool eh, kaso nagdrop na sa klase kasi reason niya sa amin no need to finish study kasi may alam siyang malakihang income... tapos boom ayun na isang araw, nakita ko siya sa tv na, isang batikang ralihista," she wrote.

Bordios urged the public, especially the youth, not to imitate her action, adding that this may further result in trouble.

"Huwag na huwag niyo po akong tutuluran. Kabataan, magingat kayo sa kinocomment niyo, doon sa mga pino-post natin against sa taong hindi natin kilala. 'Yun 'yung huwag na huwag po nating gagawin na makapagdudulot sa atin ng kapahamakan," she said.

"Hinihikayat ko kayo na kung meron man kayong makita na against sa taong di niyo kilala, 'wag niyo nang dadagdagan 'yung problema," Bordios added.

Reyes, for his part, also called on the public to stop spreading fake news about other people.

"Sana tigilan na natin, minsan akala natin nakakatawa, sasakay tayo pero hindi rin tama na nagkakalat tayo ng di totoo para lang makasira sa tao, makakuha ng likes, makakuha ng shares. Di po tayo sana ganon, we are better than that," he said.

Reyes, on Wednesday, disclosed over social media that he has been a victim of misinformation and online threats, originating from a claim made by a sales agent against him.

Reyes said he will be suing the sales agent, but added that some of the people who have bashed him over the salesperson's allegation have apologized to him. — BM, GMA News