Iloilo Provincial Information and Community Affairs Office (PICAO) head Jose Nereo Lujan has challenged officials of the Liga ng mga Barangay-Iloilo City Chapter to identify the Facebook posts they claim show hostility toward the Iloilo City government and Mayor Raisa Treñas.
Lujan questioned the allegations in a letter sent to Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., saying the complaint did not specify the posts that supposedly constituted “bitter hostility” against the city government.
The complaint, signed by Liga president Maria Irene Ong and district presidents, described Lujan’s online comments as “vile, malicious and below the belt character assassination” and asked Defensor to take action.
Lujan maintained that criticism of government officials should not automatically be considered hostility or misconduct.
The information chief also stressed that his personal opinions on Facebook should not automatically be attributed to the Iloilo provincial government.
Lujan urged the Liga officials to present the posts in question for public scrutiny.
“Public officials are entitled to respond to criticism. They are not entitled to be free from it,” he said.IMT
