Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas yesterday called on netizens to take extra care in uploading social media materials that could ruin the character and reputation of other people.
Vargas aired the appeal as he confirmed that it was him, not suspected drug lord and convicted bank robber Herbert “Ampang” Colangco, who was in a viral video with whom Sen. Leila M. de Lima was virtually rubbing elbows with.
In a press statement, Vargas urged netizens to take extra care in uploading social media materials that are aimed at ruining the reputation of persons, especially videos, documents, and photographs from unknown sources.
Vargas confirmed De Lima’s statement that it was him, not Colangco, who is in the video clip where the former Justice Secretary was seen singing a popular Tagalog song and later rubbing elbows with a man wearing dark glasses.
The viral video that was uploaded in social media sites by netizens was sourced from various blog and other Internet sites.
De Lima bashers continued to post the video clip with a voice over of a woman cursing the former Justice Secretary for her role in the video.
“I just want to make it clear that it was me in the video and not Mr. Herbert Colangco. I had sore eyes at that time so I had to wear sunglasses and could not properly shake hands with everybody,” said Vargas.
Vargas, a Liberal Party colleague of De Lima, said the video was taken during last year’s birthday anniversary celebration of the lady senator. She was then the Justice Secretary. (Ben R. Rosario)
