All posts by Pol Pinoy

Politics, Religion, Social Media

CBCP Added As Third Fact-checker, Joining Rappler and Vera Files

Leave a comment

044A218D-6324-4C62-AE04-7B6B13B26212MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – SUBJECT TO FACT-CHECKING BY RAPPLER –  For Rappler and Vera Files, two is a lonely number, so a third entity was added to the fact-checking partnership with Facebook, aimed at curbing the spread of fake news on social media.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) became the third fact-checker.

Many will recall that in a pastoral letter issued last year, CBCP told Filipino Catholics that spreading fake news is a sin against charity. It listed several websites that it considered to be sources of fake or unverified information.ADAAB6E1-88C0-4D24-B6AC-75B0492F4535

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg could not be reached for comment, but both Rappler and Vera Files told The Adobo Chronicles that they were unhappy about the CBCP’s addition  because the Catholic Church has more followers than Rappler and Vera Files combined.

Professional jealousy, eh?

Politics, Social Media, Technology

An Open Letter To Facebook And Mark Zuckerberg

Leave a comment

Dear Mark Zuckerberg:

I am writing to you as your fellow American who holds the First Amendment in the highest regard.  It is precisely our inalienable right to free speech that I think fueled the growth and popularity of Facebook worldwide.

I watched with pride as you  held your ground before the U.S. Senate hearing, dismissing suggestions from our lawmakers that Facebook needs to do a better job in policing citizen posts on your social networking site.

But I was extremely disappointed at the news that Facebook chose to partner with Rappler and Vera Files for the purpose of fact-checking news and information on your social media platform.

You may have been fed the wrong information about these two Philippine entities.  They are not necessarily the epitome of truth and non-partisanship.  Most Filipinos will tell you that they are both biased against the current administration supported by more than 90% of the population, many of whom are Facebook account holders.

I am the publisher and writer of the satirical news site The Adobo Chronicles, registered as such with the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office.

I am sure that you and your wonderful employees at Facebook understand the difference between fake news and satire.

So when your chosen partner, Rappler, fact-checked The Adobo Chronicles about a “news story” we published months ago about its CEO Maria Ressa, it begs us to question the credentials of Rappler as a non-partisan and competent fact-checker.

I’m sure you’ve been informed that the same Maria Ressa previously blamed Facebook for the political unrest and proliferation of fake news in the Philippines.

I assume that Facebook’s intent is to fact-check individuals and organizations that deliberately and maliciously  spread false information for political and other partisan interests.

The Adobo Chronicles is a news satire site.  Our disclaimers are clear as crystal.  Yet Rappler’s first fact-checking project since the announcement of your partnership was to fact-check our satirical site.

Where is the legitimacy and sensical basis for a fact-checker franchised by Facebook like Rappler? We can only surmise that Rappler’s intent in fact-checking us was self-serving.  They used their new-found “power” as a weapon for damage control in view of their declining credibility as a “news” organization.

Rappler has also violated the Philippine Constitution which prohibits foreign ownership of media companies. And that is a fact.

I am confident that Facebook will not condone any violation of laws in the U.S. or elsewhere, including the Philippines.

May I suggest that you leave the fact-checking to your individual subscribers and account holders.  They’re intelligent enough to make the proper discernment.  Yes, Filipinos included. (And let me tell you, the only ones happy abou Facebook’s partnership with Rappler and Vera Files are… Rappler and Vera Files).

With much respect and admiration,

Rene M. Astudillo

The Adobo Chronicles

Politics, Social Media, The Media

Rappler’s Maria Ressa Very Worried About Filipinos’ Exodus From Facebook

Leave a comment

2BFD9464-3E91-41A2-BBF2-8E227DBE007B.jpegMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) SUBJECT TO FACT-CHECKING BY RAPPLER — Maria Ressa is having sleepless nights.  She is very worried about threats by Filipino netizens to leave Facebook and switch to other social media platforms like VK.com, ELLO and others.

The mass exodus from Facebook was prompted by the social media giant’s recent announcement that it was partnering with Rappler and Vera Files to fact-check news and information on social media.

Ressa is trying to dissuade more exodus from Facebook, even painting those who have switched to VK.com as “working with Russia.”

But in a telephone interview with The Adobo Chronicles, Ressa admitted that the reason she is worried is because she and Rappler may eventually lose their new-found power to censor the Internet, especially their own critics.

”I am also afraid that Mark Zuckerberg might eventually rescind our partnership  once he realizes that Filipinos are leaving Facebook for other social media platforms,” Ressa said.