For this edition of DALAWANG PISO, it came to my attention that in the midst of the heated debate of the very controversial and RH Bill(To make it clear that I made my stand that I do not approve the bill), a short statement was made by Senator Tito Sotto. He is against the bill and also told the story on how he lost his son brought by its consequences. However, there was something wrong in his speech that raised eyebrows especially to the online community.
On the website of The Healthy Home Economist, the article used in his privileged speech regarding about the bill was said to be plagiarized from her post. Sotto first denied quoting the blogger and said she was quoting Natasha Campbell-McBride. And then also gave a statement of “Bakit ko naman iko-quote ang blogger? Blogger lang iyon. Ang kino-quote ko si Natasha Campbell-McBride." Which sounds really wrong to bloggers like me. Later, Sotto's staff admitted to have used the blog post with a letter sent by Atty Hector Villacorta from the office of Senator Sotto.
The quote also got reaction from various Filipino Blog communities, one of which is PEBA Inc (Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards). And has been the talk of blogger discussion groups. And so the issue is now spreading via social networking sites. I have also read a number of blogs that, like me, furious about what they think of this predicament as something light and carry on. Cheerio?
Being one of the non-RH Senator, he made his privileged speech at the right place, at the right time but with a wrong piece. As humans, we do understand the pain of the loss of his son which is one of the reason he is against the bill. However, its a sin to tolerate people that an obvious crime of plagiarism was made which is technically intellectual theft.
The quote also got reaction from various Filipino Blog communities, one of which is PEBA Inc (Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards). And has been the talk of blogger discussion groups. And so the issue is now spreading via social networking sites. I have also read a number of blogs that, like me, furious about what they think of this predicament as something light and carry on. Cheerio?
Being one of the non-RH Senator, he made his privileged speech at the right place, at the right time but with a wrong piece. As humans, we do understand the pain of the loss of his son which is one of the reason he is against the bill. However, its a sin to tolerate people that an obvious crime of plagiarism was made which is technically intellectual theft.
For my dalawang piso, it seems that there is something wrong here. I don't question Senator Sotto's stand on the bill or his grief on that heart breaking loss. However the things that are wrong here are: (1) Plagiarizing an article from a blogger and even denying it (even proven that original content did came from the post), which later on was admitted by his staff. (2) Though understandable that he is not into the blogging community, his small statement " Blogger Lang" is somehow a "rude" way to see their existence. It maybe addressed to a specific blogger but does it mean blogs and bloggers are irrelevant? Also with their letter to Sarah Pope, the author of the blog seems to put the guilt on her rather than to apologize for the damage done.
I am not calling for heads to roll, but rather an sincere apology letter or statement for this issue only. Plagiarism is a crime, and it is ironic for a lawmaker to break a law that is a very obvious practice. Dear Senator Sotto I know you may be stressed, but as a citizen of the Philippines, a blogger and a netizen, if you really care about public welfare you would listen to this simple post of what I feel and also of the people online. Don't think that bloggers or online people are something you can exempt from rules that you made to get get out of this needle hole. It's so freaking obvious, and the worse part is it was from someone abroad which makes thing go internationally. I feel now uncomfortable with you and your staff as if you think you also own our souls just because we work and write online. There is still time to redeem yourself dear senator and your staff, definitely my vote is not for you. This is my dalwang piso, it's time to make it... or break it...
