Sen. Alan Cayetano reacted to Rappler’s controversial meme.
CAYETANO – An open letter of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano to Rappler following a controversial meme went viral on the social media.
Sen. Cayetano was a vice presidential candidate in the 2016 national election. He was the running mate of Pres. Rodrigo ‘Rody’ Roa Duterte. He is known as one of the staunch supporters of the 71-year-old President.
Recently, based on a news report in Pinoy Trending News, it is stated that Rappler has pulled out a controversial meme depicting the Senator as a dog of the President.
Based on the report, the controversial post was taken ten minutes after it was posted on the social media. However, it crossed the Facebook pages which are supporting Pres. Duterte.
In the controversial meme, Mocha Uson, Sen. Cayetano, and Department of Justice Sec. Vitaliano II were depicted as dogs. Rappler has already issued a public apology for the action.
Sen. Cayetano reacted on the matter and posted an open letter on the social media. His message was addressed to Rappler.
In his message, the Senator stated that he has always respected Rappler although he ‘disagreed’ with the media organization’s reporters.
The Senator emphasized his belief ‘in the freedom of the press, the value of information and transparency and in the basic human value of respect.’ He noted that the meme speaks about Rappler, its editors, and the person who ‘authored’ the controversial post.
The Senator also stressed in his message to Rappler his belief that he and Rappler share the ‘same love for GOD and Country.’
He posted a question on why is there a need to take it personally. The Senator stated that the ‘media will be in an uproar’ in case a politician would depict them as dogs.
“Does supporting and believing in the Duterte administration make us dogs/tuta?” the Senator stated.
Sen. Cayetano also posted a question to the media organization if it has done the same thing to other personalities in the field of politics.
He also questioned Rappler regarding the presence of the controversial meme in the media organization’s office, its maker, and the one who posted it.
“Who made the meme and posted it? What was his or her punishment? But the biggest question is why such a meme existed in your office? Is Rappler doubling as a social media propaganda machine?” the Senator stated in his post.
The Senator stressed his assumption that the media organization apologized for what they have done and not just because they were ‘caught’. Sen Cayetano ended his message with a statement expressing his forgiveness to Rappler.
‘So since its (Chinese) New Year and since the BIBLE says forgive 7 times 77, I forgive you. GOD Bless The Philippines!’
Sen. Cayetano’s post went viral on the social media and has already reached more than six thousand five hundred shares as of Tuesday.
https://www.facebook.com/alanpetercayetano/photos/a.373022762790511.85517.368498793242908/1296602600432518/?type=3