Competing Values Regarding Internet Use in “Free” Philippine Social Institutions
119
to a more solemn pose. Eventually, as some postings became more offensive and were
deemed “ below-the-belt ” attacks on the president, some of the comments posted on
his Facebook page were fi ltered.
11
Subsequently, the government created an independent commission headed by the
secretary of justice, called the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC),
to look into the apparent systemic failure in the hostage incident. The president
promised that all those found accountable by the commission would be charged and
punished.
After two weeks of hearings, the IIRC submitted an 82-page report that found ten
offi cials liable for administrative and criminal sanctions. Three close supporters of the
president were among those included in the recommendations. According to Malou
Mangahas of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, the president wanted
palace lawyers to fi rst review the report and, if possible, strike out the names of three
of his close allies. He was quoted as saying, “ Napatapang ‘ ata masyado ah. Bakit kasama
pa sila Puno, Lim, at Verzosa? ” [It ’ s too strongly worded. Why are we implicating Puno,
Lim, and Verzosa?]
12
The administration then announced that a copy would be fi rst supplied to the
Chinese government as a form of courtesy, but promised to publish the complete
report in time on the Offi ce of the President ’ s Web site ( http://www.op.gov.ph ), and
quickly uploaded pages 1 to 60 of the report. However, it did not include the subsequent 22 pages that had the committee ’ s conclusions on accountability or its recommendations and highlights of the report.
As these two cases illustrate, the government ’ s intent to use the Internet for opening
discussions and more transparency has not been completely fulfi lled. For the former
goal, there are fears that unfettered regulation could potentially lead to greater discord
and disharmony rather than better understanding. For the latter, sociopolitical considerations still factor into what gets said.
Educational Institutions
Internet access is becoming a fundamental need in schools and universities, since it
provides students with access to more knowledge and information.
13 As a result, access
to the Internet in schools is becoming a norm, despite negative and unwanted experiences that result from its use.
14
Access and Availability
Among educational institutions in the Philippines surveyed, 73 percent provided
Internet access to everyone (faculty, students, and employees), while the rest had
provisional access depending on the person ’ s role in the institution.
15
119
to a more solemn pose. Eventually, as some postings became more offensive and were
deemed “ below-the-belt ” attacks on the president, some of the comments posted on
his Facebook page were fi ltered.
11
Subsequently, the government created an independent commission headed by the
secretary of justice, called the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC),
to look into the apparent systemic failure in the hostage incident. The president
promised that all those found accountable by the commission would be charged and
punished.
After two weeks of hearings, the IIRC submitted an 82-page report that found ten
offi cials liable for administrative and criminal sanctions. Three close supporters of the
president were among those included in the recommendations. According to Malou
Mangahas of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, the president wanted
palace lawyers to fi rst review the report and, if possible, strike out the names of three
of his close allies. He was quoted as saying, “ Napatapang ‘ ata masyado ah. Bakit kasama
pa sila Puno, Lim, at Verzosa? ” [It ’ s too strongly worded. Why are we implicating Puno,
Lim, and Verzosa?]
12
The administration then announced that a copy would be fi rst supplied to the
Chinese government as a form of courtesy, but promised to publish the complete
report in time on the Offi ce of the President ’ s Web site ( http://www.op.gov.ph ), and
quickly uploaded pages 1 to 60 of the report. However, it did not include the subsequent 22 pages that had the committee ’ s conclusions on accountability or its recommendations and highlights of the report.
As these two cases illustrate, the government ’ s intent to use the Internet for opening
discussions and more transparency has not been completely fulfi lled. For the former
goal, there are fears that unfettered regulation could potentially lead to greater discord
and disharmony rather than better understanding. For the latter, sociopolitical considerations still factor into what gets said.
Educational Institutions
Internet access is becoming a fundamental need in schools and universities, since it
provides students with access to more knowledge and information.
13 As a result, access
to the Internet in schools is becoming a norm, despite negative and unwanted experiences that result from its use.
14
Access and Availability
Among educational institutions in the Philippines surveyed, 73 percent provided
Internet access to everyone (faculty, students, and employees), while the rest had
provisional access depending on the person ’ s role in the institution.
15