- Atty. Angelo de Alban held a meet-and-greet.
- De Alban cited reasons why it is part of his platform to protect media and bloggers.
Advocate, lawyer and educator Angelo de Alban held a meet-and-greet at the Chang Ai Express on October 30, Tuesday. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) recently cited the lawyer as a “nuisance candidate,” petitioning for his disqualification. Atty. Angelo expressed his dismay at the disqualification case.
Meet and greet.
Atty. Angelo faced media, press and bloggers during the said meet-and-greet. He answered questions from bloggers and media where he enumerated his platform and advocacies. Atty. Angelo wants to oversee the enhancement of laws regarding special education, persons with disabilities and senior citizens in need of assisted living.
Protection for media and bloggers.
De Alban pointed out that media and bloggers need protection even though there is an Anti-Cyber Bullying Law. This law may be filed against said media and bloggers when criticizing a person in the field. He noted how there is a line, a very thin line, between bullying and criticism.
“Lalo na sa mga bloggers, and at the same time those in the mainstream media. Kailangan kasi ma-proteksyunan kayo… lalo na ngayon na may [Anti-] Cyber Bullying Law… which prohibits you from actually uttering or saying things that might tend to offend or might tend to degrade something. But the problem is there’s a very thin line between bullying and criticism. Eh, you have to maintain your independence as far as criticizing, as far as expressing your criticism, regarding a certain person in your industry.”
Atty. Angelo insisted that the Anti-Cyberbullying Law affects the media and bloggers’ freedom of expression.
“Kapag ‘di maganda ang acting mo dito, kapag may ‘di ka magandang nagawa, bloggers should be able to maintain their independence nang hindi sila natatakot. ‘Sasabihin ko bang ‘di maganda ang acting niya dito kaso baka sabihin na binubully ko siya, kakasuhan ako.’ So, we have to reevaluate also the Anti-Cyber Bullying Law because it affects, or influences, controls or it regulates your freedom of expression…”
Although he has no political experience, he has been a lawyer for other politicians. He shared that his grandfather used to be a mayor in their town in Isabela City. De Ablan’s relatives have positions in local politics as councilors and barangay captains.
