Basilan solon laments social media comments praising Ateneo shooter

Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman on Tuesday lamented comments on social media which hailed Chao Tiao Yumol as a hero after he shot and killed Lamitan Mayor Rose Furigay and two others at the Ateneo campus on July 24.

In a privilege speech, Hataman said some even justified Yumol's actions.

"Pardon me for expressing disappointment over what we see and hear on social media regarding this case. Ito ang lubha kong ikinakabahala, Mr. Speaker. Ang paglaganap ng kultura ng karahasan sa ating lipunan," Hataman said.

"Kailan pa naging tama ang pagpatay? Kailan pa naging tama ang purihin at ilagay sa pedestal ang isang taong kumitil ng tatlong buhay, sa loob ng isang paaralan, at nandamay ng mga inosente?" he added.

(This is what alarms me, Mr. Speaker. The perpetration of a culture of impunity. Since when is killing okay? Since when is killing praised and the killer put on a pedestal for killing three people okay?)

"How can someone fashion himself to be a hero kung alam niyang pumatay siya ng mga inosente? Paano si Victor George Capistrano? Paano ang nadamay niyang Ateneo security guard na si Jeneven Bandiala? Paano ang malubhang nasugatang anak ni Mayor Rose?," Hataman said.

"There is no justifiable reason to murder anyone, at hindi tamang purihin o suportahan ang pagkitil ng buhay. Not now, not ever," he added.

Capistrano was Furigay's executive assistant while Bandiala was the Ateneo security guard. Both were also shot and killed when Yumol allegedly attacked Furigay.

(How can the gunman be called a hero when we all know he killed innocent people? What about Victor George Capistrano? The Ateneo security guard Jeneven Bandiala? What about Mayor Rose's daughter who was seriously hurt? It is never right to praise and support killings.)

Hataman said it was important for one to be responsible whether online or in real life.

"Gusto ko sanang ipaalala, Mr. Speaker, ang kahalagahan ng mga salitang binibitawan natin sa social media, ang pagiging responsableng mamamayan kahit saan ka man, sa personal, sa Facebook o maging sa Twitter," Hataman said.

"Ang ginawa ni Chao-Tiao Yumol ay inilagay niya sa kanyang mga kamay ang batas at kumitil ng buhay," he added. 

(I want to stress Mr. Speaker the importance of the words we use on social media, how to become a responsible citizen wherever one is, whether in person, on Facebook or on Twitter. Chao-Tiao Yumol placed the law in his hands and took lives.)

While the Constitution protects freedom of speech, Hataman said that measures should be in place to stop proliferation of speech that support and promote commission of crimes.

"Kung pareho nating nakikitang mali ang pagpuri at pagsuporta sa isang krimen sa social media, ano ang pwede nating gawin tungkol dito? Payag ba tayo na hulmahin ng social media ang ating mga values bilang mga Pilipino? Lalo na ang ating mga kabataan?" Hataman said.

(If we are seeing such support for killers on social media, what should we do? Should we allow social media to dictate our values?) —NB, GMA News