Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson called on Lasallians to be the bringers of positive change and asked them to be responsible and conscientious both in words and deeds as advocacy groups from Talisay and Silay cities mounted activities highlighting the 18-Day Campaign To End Violence Against Women amid the controversy that dragged the University of St. La Salle when a college freshman from the school posted indecent comments on his Facebook account against Vice President Leni Robredo.
But the governor’s statement, issued to local media Wednesday night, was short of specifics surrounding the circumstances that triggered violent reactions from netizens this week. It also came at the height of the Lasallian community’s indignation against 21-year-old Johnrey Apellido of Talisay City, a first year Bachelor of Science in Information Technology student, who is under investigation for his vulgar and graphic FB post, in Filipino, against Robredo last week.
“To all Lasallians, we are expected to be the bringers of positive change, otherwise, the least that we can do is to be responsible and conscientious both in words and deeds, for being a Lasallian is not a title , but a duty to live honorably,” Lacson said.
Education, the top Capitol executive continued, sets civilization apart from barbarism, particularly the Lasallian brand of education.
Lacson further said he is disheartened when fellow Lasallians utter dishonorable , imprudent, sexist and injurious comments.
“While it is true that the freedom of speech and expression are guaranteed by the Constitution, {such} does not allow irresponsible and offensive speech meant to damage another,” he added.
LA SALLE DECISION OUT SOON
Dr. Annabelle Balor, St. La Salle vice chancellor for academic affairs, issued a statement early this week, saying that the university has started its investigation on Apellido’s post which she called both alarming and upsetting. The university decision is expected shortly.
Sr. Mary Thomas Prado, OSB, former president of St. Scholastica’s College-Manila, also joined the call on Tuesday for a speedy probe on Apellido in a letter to USLS President Bro. Joaquin Severino Martinez, FSC.
But Martinez has since kept mum on the controversy, although the school management has allowed academic officials to deal with reporters’ queries on the issue that went viral on social media.
“The post is blatantly insulting, demeaning and offensive to the second highest official of the land, to women, to Catholic education, to the youth, to parents, to every decent Filipino in this country,” Sr. Mary, a native of Bago City, told Martinez.
The La Salle student took down his controversial post late last week and issued an apology on Saturday, Nov. 28, but netizens and alumni continued to criticize him and expressed their anger in the comments section until yesterday.
Apellido’s FB account is no longer searchable as of latest check.
‘BANTAY BASTOS’
Women’s rights advocates in Talisay and Silay cities held their respective Bantay Bastos campaigns Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, as one of the highlights of their observance of the 18-Day Campaign To End Violence Against Women.
A battery of speakers took turns in denouncing abuses against women in a program held at the covered court of Barangay Zone 2, Talisay City, where Sangguniang Panlungsod Member Rosalinda “RJ” Tuvilla, Jr. disclosed plans of initiating a council resolution condemning Apellido’s act, specifically on online and gender-based sexual harassment.
Tuvilla, speaking before fellow advocates, barangay and city officials, scored Apellido, a resident of Talisay, for his irresponsible action.
She also reminded the public to be more responsible with their posts online as she urged event organizers, led by the City Social Welfare and Development Office, women leaders, overseas Filipino workers organizations, among others, to educate the public about the Safe Spaces Act and extend full support to the Bantay Bastos campaign.
A similar event at the Silay Civic Center was co-organized by the office of SP Member Lyndon Bernardo, chair of the SP Committee on Women and the CSWDO.
Other resource persons at both events were Dawn Marie Castro, who spoke on Republic Act 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act and the Bantay Bastos campaign, while her mother and former Silay City Councilor Marie June Pavillar-Castro talked about R.A. 9262 or the Anti-VAWC Law.
Silay City’s Local Government Operations Officer Joy Valla discussed the mechanics of the Barangay VAW Desk. Mel Villavicencio, former CSWD officer and current Soroptimist of Silay president, spoke on Helping Relationships.
