STATEMENT ON THE ATENEO SHOOTING INCIDENT

MAD sends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the shooting incident at the Ateneo de Manila University.

MAD condemns in the strongest terms the role that disinformation and social media platforms have played in bringing about this lawless violence, and again their part in flattening the discourse on the real issue of violence and impunity that marked this tragedy.

On July 24, 2022, former Lamitan, Basilan Mayor Rosita Furigay was killed in broad daylight by gunshots at close range at Arete, the Ateneo, when she was about to attend her daughter’s law school graduation. Other casualties included her security detail Mr. Victor Capistrano and Ateneo security guard Mr. Jeneven Bandiala.

The shooter was allegedly motivated by a personal vendetta against the ex-mayor. His social media profiles revealed that he supports vigilante justice and is strongly against prominent figures of the opposition, as well as journalists and networks that he perceived as “biased.”

However, ex-mayor Furigay’s track record tells a different story. During her 9-year term, she was seen as a caring mother to her constituents, especially to the poor. She was known to be an advocate for peace in Mindanao and had received awards for her projects on infrastructure and social services.

MAD cannot look away from the role that social media platforms have played in radicalizing and sowing violence in the hearts and minds of its users. The NIL, if not inadequate and ineffective safeguards that social media platforms have in regulating the spread of disinformation and hate speech online, have enabled and emboldened online violence to crossover to real world violence.

Further, it is incredibly alarming how the narrative of the shooter, which is being gradually transformed to garner public’s sympathy, confuses and dilutes the problems of violence and impunity that have manifested in this incident. Instead of addressing these problems, the lies and false narratives that freely circulate in the social media platforms, are diverting the public’s attention to conspiracy theories and red-tagging.

MAD summons the social media platforms, particularly Meta, to reign in the spread of lies and disinformation relating to this incident, which just obscures the truth that online violence and impunity translate to real world hate and harm. MAD also implores the legislators and relevant government agencies to hold, demand and exact accountability from the social media platforms for the unbridled spread of hate and disinformation online.

Finally, MAD invokes the primordial duty of the state to maintain peace and order, and to uphold the rule of law at all times, whether online or offline, for the benefit of its citizens and all those under its care.